God Produces the Will and the Act to Do

STUDY: #885-CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: JANUARY 26, @ FEBUARY 1, 2016

TOPIC: "God Produces the Will and the Act to Do" Philippians 2:12-18

My beloved Paul gave an advice to the Philippian brothers. "Occupy yourselves continuously in working out your salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12 "Therefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Salvation is lost! When this occurs a great treasure is lost for things that bear punishment. Get rid of sin! This is the plea for those who are faithful on behalf of the apostle Paul. The apostle demands us to behave with a great sense of respect and responsibility. We must see that we have salvation to gain through Christ, so we must watch out for it. That is why we do not walk in disarray or falls because of negligence. Salvation is a progressive stage of personal sanctification in which there is a great cooperation on our part. In our journey we must carry it out (our salvation and cooperation on our part to personal sanctification) with fear and trembling, because we know ourselves and we are very conscious of our weakness and know that we can fall. Of course, we take care of ourselves because we are chosen (that is if you are). Philippians 2:13 “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." For it is God who works in us the desire to do what pleases Him. Here we are given a double reason for respect and a sense of responsibility that we are to exercise in the practice of our sanctification. There is nothing you can do concerning the service if there is no sanctification in your life. Purity has to work in you. You have to have clear eyes to be able to speak, help and to surrender yourself. Double intentions are in those who neglect their sanctification. It is necessary to know that we are “cooperating" with God in the work in which He takes the initiative. It is necessary the knowledge, for our comfort, that behind our "will and act" God is sustaining our weakness with His power (Him doing in us!). His power is effective! God knows that we are free and also knows that we have a personal responsibility. In Verses 14 to 16 Paul calls us to live a holy life, so that we shine as lights in a world that hates the light. (Vs.15) Do everything without grumbling or objecting (Vs. 14). Those who present objections reject or deny what needs to be done. They are the ones who have "buts." They seem so fair, but what they mean is to say is a really big "no"! Complaining and arguments! Contentions are manifested "sweetly" when someone uses big arguments to take advantage and "pull their way." We have to struggle to work with everything that needs to be done without murmuring or complaining. We must show ourselves as children of God without fault in the midst of this world that is twisted and perverted (Vs.15). That was the glory that the Philippians were to give God with a holy conduct. It would also be for their glory; "...in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life." We are luminaries for His glory surrounds us. We are appointed by God to offer others the doctrine of the gospel in all its vivifying and luminous force thru the light that emanates from us. It is the Word of life that carries out all that through a blameless and pure conduct.

Finally, all this work of the power of God in the Philippians fellow believers would also cause an effect of glory for the apostle himself. "In order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or have labored in vain." Philippians 2:16 For Paul his glory consists in his effort to proclaim the Gospel and obtain the fruit desired in the listeners and to not go out meaningless. That will be for him part of the crown of righteousness which the Lord will give him in that day. 2 Timothy 4: 8 "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Justice is to recognize the merits of a person respecting the truth, the law and good behavior and granting that person what belongs to him according to his acts. The apostle Paul gives the Philippian brothers his great advice to care for salvation with fear and trembling; for us nowadays this advice comes to us on God’s behalf to equally preserve what has been given to us and to care for it like anything else in our lives. Amen.