Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

I. THE CHARACTER AND INFLUENCE OF AN UNMURMURING AND PEACEFUL SPIRIT.

1. Murmuring is here meant against God. It may arise

(1) from our experience of a disagreeable lot or from dark providences; or

(2) from an unthankful spirit. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10.) We ought to be "content with such things as we have" (Hebrews 13:5), for "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6). We are, therefore, to do nothing murmuringly, because such an attitude of mind seems to imply a too slender trust in the resources of Divine goodness and wisdom.

2. The disputings here meant point to those dissensions which war the peace of the Church. We ought to avoid disputings, because

(1) we know not where they may end;

(2) because they often arise from pride and ignorance (1 Timothy 6:4);

(3) because they disturb others as well as ourselves (Luke 21:19);

(4) because they produce confusion and evil works (James 2:16, 17);

(5) because, if we live in peace, God will be with us (2 Corinthians 13:11).

II. THE OBJECT AND AIM OF SUCH A SPIRIT. "That ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the Word of life." They were to be examples to the world of high Christian living.

1. Their lives were to be marked by a purity, a loftiness, a consistency, which would disarm the censure of the world. They were, as children of God, to present no spots upon which the eye of a critical generation might rest with a scorn for goodness.

2. Their lives were to be marked, not by a mere absence of fault, but by a conspicuous exhibition of all those positive graces that are identified with the full Tower of the Word of life.

(1) The lives of Christians ought to be a transcript of the Word of life, manifesting its beauty to the world. Thus the saints are to be "living epistles of Christ, to be known and read of all men."

(2) They are to shine forth as luminaries in a dark and perverse world (Matthew 5:16). Nearly all the light that fills the world is reflected from a million objects around us, and does not stream down directly from the sun. Similarly, Jeans Christ is the supreme Source of all light - the Sun of righteousness - but his light is reflected upon the world from the millions of believers whom he has enlightened and blessed by his Spirit. Therefore the saints ought to remember the voice of old, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."

III. THE ULTIMATE BEARING OF SUCH A SPIRIT UPON THE GLORYING OF THE APOSTLE. "That I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain, neither labor in vain."

1. It is possible even, for an apostle to lose his labor. It may be in vain to the people who refuse his message, but not to himself (Isaiah 49:4).

2. The ministry is a work of great toil and strain.

3. The conversion of souls will enhance the joys of heaven to the faithful minister. - T.C.

Conversion is a great change; but the converted need frequent caution lest they should return to pollution in consequence of their surroundings and temptations, and constant exhortations to follow holiness. Hence the rules before us.

I. THE CHRISTIAN DEPORTMENT, the cultivation of which is commanded.

1. The spirit which Christians are to cherish towards God — "without murmuring," i.e., impatient discontent with God as have imposed harsh laws, and required difficult obedience. This is the temper of unconverted men, but many professors are in danger of cherishing it. Reflect then —(1) That Christ's burden is easy, and that His commandments are not grievous.(2) That they are given to prevent injury to the soul.(3) That obedience is claimed as a testimony of gratitude.(4) That there is a heavenly recompense. If these weigh with you, so far from murmuring you will love the law of your God and rejoice in His testimonies.

2. The spirit which Christians are to cherish towards men — "without disputings."(1) The spirit of contention is most injurious to the individual and the Church, and is everywhere condemned.(2) It is to be feared that this consideration is largely disregarded, witness our internal disputes and the strife of sects.(3) As the reasons for unity are most cogent, Christians and Churches should love one another.

3. The spirit Christians are to cherish in relation to the public interests and extension of the truth. "Shine...word of life."(1) The advocacy of the truth is not to be confined to the ministry; these words were addressed to saints as well as bishops. How can Christians better shine as lights than by exhibiting the lamp of truth either by preaching, Sunday school teaching, Bible or tract circulation, family instruction, etc. To this end we need the Pentecostal fire.

II. THE MOTIVES by which the cultivation of this deportment is commanded.

1. The just vindication of the Christian character in the presence of the ungodly world. As they exhibited the elements of the Christian character indicated they would be "blameless," etc., and compel adversaries to render the gospel the tribute of their homage. The importance of this motive is seen —(1) In the constancy and energy with which it is urged.(2) The damage inflicted on Christianity by inconsistent Christians.

2. The joy which this exhibition will produce to the minister of the gospel in the day of Christ. Then —(1) The holy deportment of believers will be made the subject of public acknowledgment at the last day (Matthew 25). What an inspiring thought!(2) It will then be the cause of ministerial joy. There is joy in conversion, progress, usefulness, triumphant death, but no joy can equal the last of all.(3) This, then, should prove a powerful argument for the cultivation of this deportment. The benefits received from the ministry demand this grateful return. Conclusion: A revival of religion, in the way indicated by the text, would speedily inaugurate the triumph of Christianity.

(J. Parsons.)

As a Christian Church you profess to be a society of believing and faithful men. Without piety you have no place in the Church. Your disqualifications may not appear to men, but they are marked by God.

I. Your duty to YOUR MINISTER, or rather to God in relation to Him. "Do all things without murmurings," etc., readily, cheerfully, consistently.

1. Love him, as the man who devotes himself to your welfare, as the man who loves you. Where this is wanting outward attention is a worthless form; when this is cultivated all necessary for his happiness will follow.

2. Hear him —(1) Candidly. His office is no easy one. Make allowances for ill health and a jaded mind.(2) Regularly, or his instructions will be impaired and he discouraged.(3) Prayerfully, before you come; as you hear. His comfort and usefulness depend largely upon this.

3. Respect his official authority. Some exaggerate this by sacerdotal superstitions; others unduly and unscripturally depreciate it.

4. Supply his temporal wants. This is a matter of right, not charity. It is not to be doled out "murmuringly," but given generously, so that he may be honest and given to hospitality.

II. Your duty TO THE CHURCH.

1. Unity: the negative "without murmurings" implies the positive. There may be no murmurings because no life — a calmness of death. The only union of worth is that which is quickened by the Spirit. This does not exclude variety. There is beauty, strength, perfection, in harmonious diversity: John's, Peter's, Thomas's.

2. Consistency — "blameless," etc. Not giving the lie to profession by unchristian tempers, and affording the enemies of the Cross occasion for rebuke. Members of the Church may be divided into —

(1)Those who do good.

(2)Those who do harm.

(3)Those who do both.

(4)Those who do neither.Now at least belong to the last. It will be but a poor consistency, but it will be harmless, while the positive in consistency, seen in outbreaks of wicked temper, in the violation of truth and justice, in malicious speaking and cruel slander, such brings a stigma on the member and the Church. Consistency, however, requires

(1)That you take an interest in the affairs of the Church;

(2)that you attend its meetings;

(3)that you maintain its discipline;

(4)that you are jealous for its reputation;

(5)that you tell your brother of his fault before you tell it to the Church;

(6)that you contribute to its support.And all this you have to exhibit before a crooked and perverse nation, and there is a good deal of crookedness in our times, in legislation, trade and commerce, habits of society. You are by your consistency to draw out the straight lines of Christianity and make the crooked straight.

III. Your duty TO THE WORLD. "Shine as lights." Divine light is to be conveyed through your medium. This position is most honourable. It makes you God's agents. It is not entrusted to philosophers, statesmen, or official people, but to believers as such. Around us is darkness; but in the Church there should be light — the contrast should be visible — in the family, social circle, market, everywhere.

1. Let your characters shine; individually like stars; collectively like constellations.

2. Shine by your voluntary, combined, and well-organized efforts. You are to hold up the Word of life through home and foreign missions, thus resembling Eddystone: "To give light and to save life." Through your neglect to do this souls may be wrecked.

3. All must join in this dispensation of light, and blend together in one radiance. Unfortunately some never find this out, and others neglect it.

IV. THE MOTIVE CONSTRAINING TO THESE VARIOUS DUTIES. "That I may rejoice," etc.

1. At that day the relation between pastor and people will be recognized. Nothing is said about other meetings.

2. You can contribute to your pastor's joy. If you are consistent it will be reckoned to his honour then.

(J. Stoughton, D. D.)

The relation of a Church to its vicinity is that of —

I. SALT TO THE LAND. A Church owes it to the peoples around to destroy prejudice and to dispose men's minds to the reception of the truth. You live in an age hard to please, etc.; then, be blameless and harmless. The Saviour urged the same duty (Matthew 5:13). Salt was used for manure, to destroy weeds and insects, and to moisten and nourish the soil. Christian characters must remove erroneous notions respecting Christ and His kingdom, awaken attention, and keep from barrenness the field of Christian effort. How?

1. By the irreproachable character of the individual members of a Church. Every true Christian professes to be in training for perfect holiness. Consistency, therefore, requires that he should not allow sin. And men may claim thus much from professors. Now, if any professor have the reputation of being an unkind husband, a disobedient child, a tyrannical master, or a slothful servant, a busybody, a cheat, he creates prejudices and closes men's hearts against the gospel. Call not these little things. Dead flies cause the ointment to stink, especially to those who want to condemn the ointment. A mote in the Christian's eye attracts more attention than a beam in the worldling's.

2. By the peace, harmony, and brotherly love of a Church. Diversities will be found, but as in music, distinct melodies breathed by different voices constitute full harmony. And a neighbourhood knows whether a Church meets in bitterness or in love (Ecclesiastes 10:20). The stormy wind of strife cannot be confined, nor the balmy breeze of charity.

3. By the inviting aspect of the public worship of a Church.(1) The building should accord in style and dimensions with the character and population of a neighbourhood. It should say, "Come in: there is room."(2) Sufficient light and air, and all that can make them attractive should be provided. The theatre and gin shop are attractive.(3) The mode of worship, too, is of importance — the best music, reading, preaching.

4. By Churches forming benevolent institutions in their neighbourhood, and having their representatives in institutions of a more general character: such as hospitals, societies for the relief of the poor, day schools, etc. The multitude cannot appreciate the man who is a martyr to religious opinions, but they can self-denial and kindness.

II. LIGHT TO THE WORLD.

1. By providing and sustaining an efficient ministry, adapted to the people, and receiving the Churches' sympathy, support, and cooperation. By this means a minister is advertised. Let a Church give its ministry a good character, and let it be really good, and hearers will be gathered and souls saved.

2. By every member ministering as he hath received the gift. Is one member qualified for business? Let him serve tables. Is another capable of instructing children? Let him teach the young. Is another gifted with conversational powers? Let him visit, etc. Let every one do something. The deficiency of power in our Churches is the loss of single talents.

3. By cherishing and exercising in all things a spirit worthy of its vocation. Appear as God's children, separate in character and conduct from the world.

III. AS SEPARATE STARS IN A CONSTELLATION, MANY GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS IN ONE HOLY PLACE, exhibiting real and essential unity. How is this to be developed?

1. By ministers and Churches guarding most carefully each other's reputation. Let not the unsuccessful be jealous of the prosperous, or the prosperous be cold towards the less favoured. Let none be ready to take up an evil report against his neighbour.

2. By cooperation for common ends. Some objects are pursued most successfully alone; but in circulation of the Scriptures, educational movements, etc., there should be association. To the tents of your tribe for fellowship, etc., but to the open camp for home and foreign missions. This will make our tents as separate dwelling places of one spiritual army.

3. By the universal expression of pleasure in the prosperity of the successful, and of regret in the adversity of the unprosperous (1 Corinthians 12:14-27).

4. By the contribution of assistance to all that need it (Ephesians 4:4-16).

(S. Martin.)

1. Christian precepts have not suffered any degeneration of meaning. They would naturally be of the gentlest to those emerging from heathenism. If, then, such exhortations were delivered to the newly converted Philippians, we ought to arrive at a high stage of Christian perfection.

2. The apostle says —(1) "Do all things." Christianity is not mere thinking or feeling, but working.(2) Without murmurings —

(a)Against God's providence.

(b)Against one another. Let there be no whisperings against those who ought to be esteemed among you.

(c)Against the ungodly world; rather suffer in silence.(3) Without disputings. Raise not knotty points of controversy. Turn your swords against your adversaries, not against yourselves.(4) That ye may be blameless. There will be those who will blame you, but don't give them occasion to.(5) Harmless, or hornless, creatures that not only do no harm, but are incapable of any.(6) As sons of God. Dignity of relationship should beget dignity of deportment,(7) Without rebuke, whom men cannot rebuke.

3. All this is as means to an end — "that ye may shine," etc.

I. PUBLICITY REQUIRED. Christians are to be "lights" and to "shine" and that not in the house, but in the "world"; hence secrecy is impossible. Beware, however, of ostentatious Phariseeism, but do not make it an excuse for cowardice. The Christian —

1. Should make a public avowal of his faith, by coming out from among the world and declaring himself on the Lord's side.

2. Should be associated constantly with Christian people. One act of profession is not enough; it should be continued by union with the visible Church. The man that was healed stood with Peter and John.

3. Should daily carry out their Christianity in their life. Do not be a display of fireworks. Let the servant outshine others by being more attentive, and the master by being more generous.

4. Should add the open testimony of words.

5. There are times when there must be a very bold and stern decision for Christ. When the old Roman senator was told by Vespasian that he might go to the senate house, but he must hold his tongue, he answered, "I, being a senator, feel impelled to go into the Senate house, and being in the Senate, it is the part. of a senator to speak what his conscience dictates." "Then," said the Emperor, "if you speak you will die." "Be it known unto thee, O Emperor," said he, "that I never hoped to be immortal, nor did I ever wish to live when I might not speak my mind." This publicity may be further urged from the fact that Christians are runners and soldiers; but who runs or fights in secret?

II. USEFULNESS INTENDED. We are lights —

1. To make manifest. A Christian should so shine that those who come near him are able to see their own character in his life, and to know the gospel.

2. To guide. The mariner understands this. Every Christian should light some part of the voyage of life, and there should not be a channel without its light.

3. For warning. On our rocks and shoals a lighthouse is erected. There are plenty of false lights. Satan's wreckers are always abroad tempting under the name of pleasure. Let us put up the true light on every dangerous rock, and so be clear of the blood of all men.

4. For comfort.

5. For rebuking sin. The gas lamps are the best police we have. Thieves do not like the light. So Christians, when they are in sufficient numbers to act on the commonwealth, make crime less common.

6. The Christian's light, unlike the others, gives light.

III. POSITION INDICATED. "Crooked," etc. This should —

1. Be an incentive. The worse people are, the more need they have of your exertions. If crooked, then make them straight.

2. Administer a caution. Do not wonder if they hate your light, and try to blow it out. Be the more anxious not to give unnecessary offence. Ask Christ to keep you straight and your light burning.

3. Console you. Are you in the midst of a crooked people? So were Paul and the Philippians.

IV. ARGUMENT SUGGESTED. "That I may not run," etc.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

1. Is not a mere set of opinions which may lie dormant in the mind; but

2. a system of principles which, taking hold of the innermost springs of feeling and action, gives its own colour and character to all that proceeds therefrom. The apostle enjoins —

I. NEGATIVELY, abstinence from those tempers by which Christian graces must be withered and the Christian profession dishonoured.

1. Two blades of grass cannot be found in all respects alike, so we cannot find two men alike in character and temperament. So there must be about the Christian that which distinguishes him not only from the worst, but the best, samples of unrenewed humanity.(2) With worldly persons it is enough to be irreproachable in those habits and duties which regard their fellow men. The Christian's aim is to conform to the will of God. The Christian is anxious not only to act well, but to act on Christian principles and from Christian motives.(1) A worldly person may discover many reasons for checking a murmuring habit of mind; he may see its inutility and folly, and so determine to play the philosopher and endure what he cannot avoid. The Christian stifles every rising murmur, because he recognizes the goodness of God in all His appointments, and fulfils the hardest duties and bears the heaviest burdens, not because they are not grievous, but because he has that heaven-born faith which these trials call into exercise, and which blunts their edge and sweetens their bitterness.(2) A merely moral person may see the expediency of setting aside a spirit of contention, viz., that it disturbs social enjoyment and deadens the sympathies of friendship. Nor is a Christian wholly unbiassed by such considerations, but he cultivates a pacific spirit, because he is a follower of the Prince of Peace, and because contention cannot consist with a healthy Christian experience, and mars usefulness.

II. POSITIVELY. The exhibition of Christian light.

1. Where?(1) In the sphere in which he personally moves.(2) In the sphere over which his influence extends.

(a)How wide these are in the narrowest life.

(b)How dark and needing illumination.

2. How?(1) By his good works.(2) By holding forth the word of life.

3. Let the millions perishing at home and abroad for lack of Christian light and influence stimulate the Christian.

(T. Page, M. A.)

Its spirit takes up and incorporates surrounding materials as a plant clothes itself with soil and climate, whilst it exhibits the workings of a vital principle within, independent of all accidental circumstances.

(S. T. Coleridge.)

He must be not only blameless, but didactic in his life; he must not only be innocent, but "zealous of good works"; he must not only be pure, but shining.

(Jeremy Taylor.)Inquire —

I.HOW THINGS ARE COMMONLY DONE?

II.HOW THEY OUGHT TO BE DONE?

III.HOW THEY CAN BE SO DONE?

(J. Lyth, D. D.)

I. THE COURSE CONDEMNED is common, humiliating, unsatisfactory.

II. THE COURSE COMMENDED is possible, wise, pleasant, Christian.

(J. Lyth, D. D.)

I. MURMURINGS.

1. The kinds of murmuring.(1) Against God (Romans 9:20).(2) Against God's providence in doing better to some than to others. This sin is many times found in David, Job, Habakkuk — "Why doth the wicked prosper?" — until they went into the sanctuary of God and under stood their end (Psalm 73:17).(3) Against God's ordinance in magistracy and ministry (1 Samuel 8:7; Titus 2:5, 9).

2. Causes.(1) Ignorance of God's particular providence (Job 42:6).(2) Self-love (Numbers 16:3).

3. Cures.(1) Labour to have a right understanding of God's justice without all exception.(2) Of His infinite goodness to all, and particularly to His own children (Matthew 10:29). This will lead us to —

(a)Justify God (Psalm 119:137; 1 Samuel 3:18; 2 Corinthians 10:19; Psalm 39:1).

(b)Learn a holy silence (Psalm 62:1; Leviticus 10:3).

(c)Practice resignation (Luke 22:42).

(d)Exercise gratitude.

II. DISPUTINGS —

1. Issue from murmurings. Murmuring requires vindication; and men are never at a loss for reasons in favour of the worst cause. This extends to duties.

2. Is a great sin. Where theology is disputed it is least practised.

(R. Sibbes, D. D.)

(Children's sermon.) Did you ever get nervous before a painted portrait? When I was a boy, there was a great oil painting hung over the fireplace of an old gentleman, with a little, sharp, cold, cruel face. But what used to frighten me most were the cold, cruel eyes. They seemed to be everywhere. If I went to the one end of the room, they followed me there; if I went to the other, they followed me. If I did anything that was wrong, they seemed to be sneering, "That is just what I expected from a boy like you!" and if I did anything right, they seemed to sneer still more, "Pah, you will very soon be doing something wrong again!" I was glad when it became too dark to see these eyes, but when the morning came, there were those eyes as unpleasant as ever! I would have been very glad to have turned that picture with its face to the wall! And would you not sometimes like to do that with this text, if it was hung up opposite you? When you are grumbling because your brother or sister got a larger piece of cake than you, or a toy bigger than yours, or when it is not your turn to be taken out, you would not like to see what God is saying to you when you are murmuring and grisling and grudging and disputing. Yet that is what God is saying to you when you are peevish and discontented. He is saying it to make you happy. There was once a little lady who was very unhappy. She lived in a fine house, and had lots of toys and a watch, yet nothing could please her. Even the weather was never just what she wanted. It was sure to rain when she wanted it to be fine, or fine when she took out her new umbrella. From morning to night she murmured and grumbled, and was very unhappy. One day she came upon two poor children playing and having such a hearty game. "These children," she said, "are very happy. I will ask them what makes them so." So she asked the eldest boy. "I don't know, miss, what you mean," said the boy; "what's happy?" "Why," she replied, "it means bright, glad, fond of things." "Oh!" said the boy, "Jim and I are always glad; ain't we, Jim?" And the eyes of the little brother danced like sunshine upon ripples as he said, "Yes, always glad." "But what makes you so glad?" "I don't know, I'm sure, miss, except that when I try to make Jim glad I get glad myself." And that was all that he knew about the matter. But as the little lady went home she thought about it, and said to herself, "What the little boy means is this — the way to be happy is by trying to make other people happy." So she thought she would try, and all that day, instead of grumbling and murmuring and finding fault, she said, "Thank you!" with a pleasant smile; and "Don't you trouble, let me do it!" in a nice spirit; and, "Well, this task is a little difficult, but I shall manage it!" And she found that everybody got pleasanter to her, and instead of always scolding her, everybody had a kind word for her, and people who used to dislike her came to love her. So she learnt the secret of happiness. And now she has grown into a great woman, people feel better for looking at her. She has such a happy, kindly face. Try to be the same; and instead of grumbling try to make people happy.

(J. R. Howat.)

How do you suppose that old gentleman in the picture came to have such an unpleasant look? Because all his life he must have been a grumbling man. Remember that you are now making the features you will have in twenty years' time. There is nothing that tells on the features so much as grumbling and discontent and fault finding. Why, the moment you look upon some people you say, "What a discontented person that is!" The way to grow beautiful is by trying, in a loving, gentle spirit, to make others happy. That was the way with Jesus. He never murmured. Sometimes He had to go without food, but He knew that His Father would not forget Him. Sometimes people said very hard things of Him, but He never murmured. He just thought, "They don't know better, poor things! if they did, they would not say such things." He was always happy, because He was always trying to make other people happy. And once you become busy in that way you won't have any time to be unhappy yourself. Pray to the dear Lord Jesus to give you His Spirit, to help you to do all things without murmurings and disputings; and the way to keep that spirit when you have got it is — try to be glad when others are glad.

(J. R. Howat.)

Do all things without "disputings." Dispute not with God; let Him do what seemeth Him good. Dispute not with your fellow Christians, raise not railing accusations against them. When Calvin was told that Luther had spoken ill of him, he said, "Let Luther call me a devil if he please, I will never say of him but that he is a most dear and valiant servant of the Lord." Raise not intricate and knotty points by way of controversy. Remember you have adversaries upon whom to use your swords, and therefore there is little need that you should turn their edges by dashing at the armour of your fellows. Dispute not even with the world. The heathen philosophers always sought occasions for debate; be it yours to testify what God has told you, but court not controversy. Be not ashamed to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, but never do it in a spirit of mere debating, never because you wish to gain a victory, but only because you would tell out what God hath bidden you reveal.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

As fuel is to the fire, so are murmurings to contentions, even as the ground and matter whereout they do spring; and as the fire long covered and smothered is not always kept under, but at length bursteth forth into flame, so those concealed hatreds, howsoever for a time they lie boiling within the heart of him who fostereth them, yet do they at length show themselves in their colours, even breaking out into open strifes. It standeth upon us to strangle both mother and daughter, lest, yielding possession in our hearts to the one, we he strangled with the other.

(H. Airay, D. D.)

Captain Stephens relates this incident illustrative of the unwisdom of different denominations competing in the same community for converts. Of course success among the inhabitants of Hawaii brought other labourers into the field, and this led to the following dialogue, which is not without its instruction and warning: — "Have you different gods?" "Different gods? No, we all worship the same living and true God." "Do you have different Bibles? Certainly not. There is but one Bible, written by men divinely inspired." "Have you all the same Saviour?" "Yes, the same." "Well, then, with the same God. the same Saviour, and the same Bible, we cannot understand why you differ." Why should differing Christians put this stumbling block in the way of recently converted heathens. The world is large, and the idolatrous are yet a great multitude.

(J. L. Nye.)

What a cause of thankfulness it is to be out of the din of controversy, and to find hundreds of thousands longing for crumbs which are shaken about so roughly in these angry disputes. It isn't High Church, or Low, or Broad Church, or any other special name, but the longing desire to forget all distinctions, and to return to a simpler state of things, that seems naturally to result from the very sight of heathen people.

(Bishop Patteson.)

Epaphroditus, Paul, Philippians, Thessalonians, Timotheus, TimothyPhilippiArguing, Arguments, Contentious, Disputes, Disputing, Disputings, Grudging, Grumbling, Guard, Murmurings, Protests, Questioning, Questionings, Reasonings, Spirit1. Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12. to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16. and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God.
19. He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also.

Philippians 2:14

     5265   complaints
     5929   resentment, against people

Philippians 2:13-15

     8765   grudge

Philippians 2:14-15

     5550   speech, negative
     6163   faults
     7142   people of God, NT
     8201   blamelessness
     8278   innocence, teaching on

Philippians 2:14-16

     5178   running
     5694   generation
     5821   criticism, among believers

Notes on the Second Century
Page 94. Line 9. The Book of ---- The reference here is to the apocryphal Wisdom of Solomon xiii. 1-5. Page 104. Med. 33. As originally written this Meditation commenced thus: Whether the sufferings of an. Angel would have been meritorious or no I will not dispute: but'---- And the following sentence, which comes after the first, has also been crossedout: So that it was an honour and no injury to be called to it: And so great an honour that it was an ornament to God himself, and an honour even to …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

January 17. "It is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13).
"It is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13). God has not two ways for any of us; but one; not two things for us to do which we may choose between; but one best and highest choice. It is a blessed thing to find and fill the perfect will of God. It is a blessed thing to have our life laid out and our Christian work adjusted to God's plan. Much strength is lost by working at a venture. Much spiritual force is expended in wasted effort, and scattered, indefinite and inconstant attempts at doing good. …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 28. "For it is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13).
"For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13). Sanctification is the gift of the Holy Ghost, the fruit of the Spirit, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the prepared inheritance of all who enter in, the greatest obtainment of faith, not the attainment of works. It is divine holiness, not human self-improvement, nor perfection. It is the inflow into man's being of the life and purity of the infinite, eternal and Holy One, bringing His own perfection and working out His own will. How easy, how …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

July 11. "For it is God which Worketh in You" (Phil. Ii. 13).
"For it is God which worketh in you" (Phil. ii. 13). A day with Jesus. Let us seek its plan and direction from Him. Let us take His highest thought and will for us in it. Let us look to Him for our desires, ideals, expectations in it. Then shall it bring to us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Let Him be our Guide and Way. Let us not so much be thinking even of His plan and way as of Him as the Personal Guide of every moment, on whom we constantly depend to lead our every step. …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

November 30. "In Lowliness of Mind Let Each Esteem Other Better than Themselves" (Phil. Ii. 3).
"In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil. ii. 3). When the apostle speaks of "the deep things of God," he means more than deep spiritual truth. There must be something before this. There must be a deep soil and a thorough foundation. Very much of our spiritual teaching fails, because the people to whom we give it are so shallow. Their deeper nature has never been stirred. The beatitudes begin at the bottom of things, the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the hungry …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

May 28. "He Humbled Himself" (Phil. Ii. 8).
"He humbled Himself" (Phil. ii. 8). One of the hardest things for a lofty and superior nature is to be under authority, to renounce his own will, and to take a place of subjection. But Christ took upon Him the form of a servant, gave up His independence, His right to please Himself, His liberty of choice, and after having from eternal ages known only to command, gave Himself up only to obey. I have seen occasionally the man who was once a wealthy employer a clerk in the same store. It was not an …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June 6. "He Emptied Himself" (Phil. Ii. 8, R. V. ).
"He emptied Himself" (Phil. ii. 8, R. V.). The first step to the righteousness of the kingdom is "poor in spirit." Then the next is a little deeper, "they that mourn." Because now you must get plastic, you must get broken, you must get like the metal in the fire, which the Master can mould; and so, it is not enough to see your unrighteousness, but deeply to feel it, deeply to regret it, deeply to mourn over it, to own it not a little thing that sin has come into your life. And so God leads a soul …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Palm Sunday
Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. 5 Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; 10 that …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Work Out Your Own Salvation
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.'--PHIL. ii. 12, 13. 'What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder!' Here are, joined together, in the compass of one practical exhortation, the truths which, put asunder, have been the war-cries and shibboleths of contending sects ever since. Faith in a finished salvation, and yet work; God working all in me, and yet I able and bound to work likewise; …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Willing Sacrifice
'That I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labour in vain. 17. Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18. And in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me.'--PHIL. ii. 16-18 (R.V.). We come here to another of the passages in which the Apostle pours out all his heart to his beloved Church. Perhaps there never was a Christian teacher (always excepting Christ) who spoke more about …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Plea for Unity
'If there is therefore any comfort in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions, 2. Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; 3. Doing nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself; 4. Not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.'--PHIL. ii. 1-4 (R.V.). There was much …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Copies of Jesus
'Do all things without murmurings and disputings; 15. That ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, 16. Holding forth the word of life.'--PHIL. ii. 14-16 (R.V.). We are told by some superfine modern moralists, that to regard one's own salvation as the great work of our lives is a kind of selfishness, and no doubt there may be a colour of truth in the charge. At least the meaning …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Paul and Timothy
'But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20. For I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for your state. 21. For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ. 22. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child serveth a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the gospel. 23. Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me: 24. But I trust in the Lord that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Paul and Epaphroditus
'But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need. 26. Since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick. 27. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28. I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Descent of the Word
'Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in the form of God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, 7. But emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.'--PHIL. ii. 5-8 (R.V.). The purpose of the Apostle in this great passage must ever be kept clearly in view. Our Lord's example is set forth as the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Ascent of Jesus
'Wherefore also God highly exalted Him and gave unto Him the name which is above every name; 10. That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'--PHIL. ii. 9-11 (R.V.). 'He that humbleth himself shall be exalted,' said Jesus. He is Himself the great example of that law. The Apostle here goes on to complete his picture of the Lord …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

July the Fourth Emptying Oneself
"He emptied Himself." --PHILIPPIANS ii. 1-11. In Mr. Silvester Horne's garden a very suggestive scene was one day to be witnessed. A cricketer of world-wide renown was playing a game with Mr. Horne's little four-year-old son! And the fierce bowler "emptied himself," and served such gentle, dainty little balls that the tiny man at the wickets was not in the least degree afraid! And the Lord of glory "emptied Himself," fashioning Himself to our "low estate," and in His unspeakably gentle approaches …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Your Own Salvation
We have heard it said by hearers that they come to listen to us, and we talk to them upon subjects in which they have no interest. You will not be able to make this complaint to-day, for we shall speak only of "your own salvation;" and nothing can more concern you. It has sometimes been said that preachers frequently select very unpractical themes. No such objection can be raised to-day, for nothing can be more practical than this; nothing more needful than to urge you to see to "your own salvation." …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

The Exaltation of Christ
I ALMOST regret this morning that I have ventured to occupy this pulpit, because I feel utterly unable to preach to you for your profit. I had thought that the quiet and repose of the last fortnight had removed the effects of that terrible catastrophe; but on coming back to the same spot again, and more especially, standing here to address you, I feel somewhat of those same painful emotions which well-nigh prostrated me before. You will therefore excuse me this morning, if I make no allusion to that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

Consolation in Christ
You will remember, my dear friends, that the Holy Spirit, during the present dispensation, is revealed to us as the Comforter. It is the Spirit's business to console and cheer the hearts of God's people. He does convince of sin; he does illuminate and instruct; but still the main part of his business lies in making glad the hearts of the renewed, in confirming the weak, and lifting up all those that be bowed down. Whatever the Holy Ghost may not be, he is evermore the Comforter to the Church; and …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

The Temper of Christ
PHILIPPIANS ii. 4. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. What mind? What sort of mind and temper ought to be in us? St. Paul tells us in this chapter, very plainly and at length, what sort of temper he means; and how it showed itself in Christ; and how it ought to show itself in us. 'All of you,' he tells us, 'be like-minded, having the same love; being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God

The Mind which was in Christ Jesus. Rev. George Wood.
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." PHILIPPIANS ii. 5. The Saviour left His followers an example that they should tread in His steps; and His example in everything that appertains to His human nature, is not only practicable but essential. We cannot imitate His power, or His wisdom, or His miracles, or His sufferings, or anything in which His Divine nature was manifested or employed; but we can imitate His meekness, His patience, His zeal, His self-denial, His superiority …
Knowles King—The Wesleyan Methodist Pulpit in Malvern

How to Keep Passion Week
(Preached before the Queen.) Philippians ii. 5-11. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

2 Cor. Iii. 5
Not that we are sufficient of our selves, to think any things as of our selves: but our Sufficiency is of God. THE Apostle, in this Epistle, was led, by the cunning Management of some evil-minded Persons amongst the Corinthians, to asset his own Apostleship; and his own Right to be their Director and Instructor, as He had been the Founder of their Church, and of their Faith. But lest they should think that He boasted of himself above measure; as if from Him, considered by Himself, came all their …
Benjamin Hoadly—Several Discourses Concerning the Terms of Acceptance with God

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