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Celestial Accent

Celestial Accent

Jul 05, 2015

Passage: Philippians 2:14-16

Preacher: Jared Puls

Category: Sunday Evening

Keywords: complaining, grumbling, language, speaking, testimony, words

Detail:

Jared Puls offers both teaching and encouragement in his treatment of Philippians 2:14-16 entitled The Celestial Accent. It is the language, and delivery of the language, that should provide an accent to the speech of a Christian. Just as a southern drawl indicates from where a speaker hails so the celestial accent should make the basis of the Christian life obvious to the listener.

Philippians was written by Paul while in prison. That context provides an interesting perspective as Paul remained positive and encouraged Christians to make sure their speech positively reflected what they had in Christ. In fact, God calls Christians to speak encouragement to other Christians and to be a light to the watching world. From that overarching principle three practical applications arise. First, Godly speech shows the innocence and blamelessness of God’s children (vv. 14-15). As believers work out their faith with fear and trembling our speech should be the first thing that defines us before others. Paul exhorts, commands, Christians not to have any trace of hopelessness in their speech. This is because of what we have in Christ. Nevertheless, our attitude, and resultant speech, is impacted in three ways. We live in a fallen world, corruption is all around us. Our own lives are tainted by sin, we are also fallen creatures. Nevertheless, our God is not only big enough for the great trials in life, He is big enough and involved enough for the little mundane, day-to-day trials. So it is that we are to let our speech be indicative of our calling to act and pray through all trials. Here our celestial accent should be obvious and far more than merely not cursing. It should emphasize the gospel in our lives. Paul, rejoicing even while in prison, sets the example.

Paul’s example nicely segues to the second point. Godly speech is a witness to the watching world. Worldly speech is typically centered on things of the world. Yet the Christian is told to focus on things not of the earth. Our speech should emphasize our focus. It is a focus the world needs. After all, if we truly believe, and live as if we believe, that we have an eternal home in heaven can it be that our speech would betray hopelessness in trial or frustration with life’s annoyances? It should not be so.

Finally, godly speech encourages those who labor with us. In v. 16 Paul tells his readers to guard their language to justify his suffering. This was not meant to bring glory to Paul but rather to ensure they held on to the teaching they had received. Paul could then rejoice with them and in them as children in the faith to the glory of God. This emphasis gave comfort and peace to Paul as he suffered. The principle holds today. Those that suffer for the gospel take comfort and peace from fellow-laborers going on for Christ.

In the end, understanding what Christ has done for believers, what he provides, and promises yet to come, provide motivation to Christians to speak encouragement to Christians. Living out the gospel offers to a watching world a glimpse of the salvation available to them.