GOD’S DIVINE WORK IN YOUR LIFE
Philippians 2:12-15
As a father of 5 children I have learned that there are “creative” ways to get your children to do certain things that you want them to do. For example, if you want them to pick up sticks in the yard and you tell them “go pick up all the sticks you can find and put them in a pile”, they will likely whine, complain and aimlessly wander around the yard. But if you start a fire and give them the opportunity to throw those sticks into the fire, they will make sure that there is not a twig left on your property. (This may not work for you, it could be that I am raising a bunch of pyromaniacs, but it gets the job done!)
Our Heavenly Father has a way of getting His children to do the things that He would have them to do; However, He does not have to use manipulation. Instead, He uses the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to serve Him. In our selected text, Paul tells us about a work that God would have us to accomplish; he says, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (v12). Without a doubt, this is something that God would have each of His children to do.
If we isolate verse 12 we may be intimidated, we may even look at this command as being impossible, and in the flesh it certainly is. However, in verse 13 Paul shows us how the impossible is made possible. You see, God gives a command, He assigns and important work, but He also empowers us to accomplish this work. In fact, He accomplishes this work through us; verse 13 says “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
This is such a comforting reality; though we have been tasked with a great responsibility, we are assured of success if we will simply: obey God, surrender to Him, and allow Him to work in and through us. The work that God does in and through our lives is a sovereign and divine work. When you realize that the all-powerful God is the one in control then it will give you great confidence as you seek to accomplish His will for your life. I would like to examine these verses today and preach on the thought “God’s Divine Work In Your Life”.
Paul is writing to the Philippians from a Roman prison. These people are precious to him and their friendship and partnership in the Gospel ministry was a source of great joy in the midst of his suffering. This letter is a “thank you note” from Paul to his brothers and sisters in Christ. This letter also contains: many exhortations, great encouragement, and much instruction concerning the Christian life.
The Philippians had been obedient to Paul’s teachings and leadership when he was present with them. They were also devoted to Christ and steadfast in their faith and service even in his absence. This is seen the phrase “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed…” The Apostle goes on to encourage them to press forward even though he is unable to be present with them, saying “now much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”.
Paul is not calling on the saints to work towards (or for) their salvation; keep in mind he is writing to people who are already Believers. By no means is he implying that salvation is something that can be earned. In fact, Paul more than anyone else makes it abundantly clear in all of his Epistles that salvation is not by works; it comes by the grace of God through faith in Christ and in Him alone! He said in 2 Timothy 1:9 “(God) has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began”.
While instructing the Philippians to ‘work out their own salvation”, Paul uses a Greek verb that literally means to continually work to bring something to completion. Though the salvation of our souls is not by works, there is an element of personal responsibility in the sanctification process. Several scriptures point to this fact.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 7:1 “…beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” This verse (and many more) makes it clear that we have a responsibility to pursue holiness and to submit to God’s work of sanctification in our lives. Paul says that “working out” ones salvation is to be done “with fear and trembling”. This speaks to the attitude that they were to possess as they lived for the Lord. Their pursuit of holiness was to be motivated by fear and respect of the Heavenly Father.
This truth is relevant in our lives as well, it is important for us to realize the great danger in offending God and we must have an intense desire to honor Him with our lives. To do this we must possess a reverential fear of God. (Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.)
It is not possible for us to pursue holiness or to live a life pleasing to God on our own. But Paul goes on to reveal exactly how it is possible to accomplish this. While there is to be fear, trembling, and continued obedience on our part, the following verse shows us that this “working” is actually the result of God’s work within us. (v13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.)
It is God who puts the desire to do His will within us; He reveals His will for us, and He is the one who prompts us to seek to accomplish His will. Furthermore He is the one who empowers and enables us to carry out the desire that he has placed within us.
- As we consider “God’s Divine Work in Your Life”, let’s begin by examining:
GOD’S DIVINE WORK CONCERNING YOUR SALVATION
If God’s only goal in salvation was to save you from your sins and deliver you from eternal condemnation, He would take you to Heaven at the moment of your conversion. Obviously, we know that is not the case. God saved you to serve Him, to bring Him glory, and to reach others with the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is certainly a monumental task, but it is not one that is impossible. It is possible and only possible because God works in and through you. This process begins with your salvation and your salvation is something that was planned by God Himself. Notice:
GOD IS THE ONE WHO PLANNED YOUR SALVATION
Without God’s plan of salvation we would be without hope and eternally condemned. But before we were ever conceived, in fact before the world was formed God knew that we would need a Savior and He had a perfect plan for our redemption. (Ephesians 1:4 He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will)
It is a tremendous honor to know that the Creator of the Universe cared enough about us that He designed a plan for our salvation. This proves that you are special to God; so special in fact that He not only planned your salvation, He paid a great price to secure it! This leads us to the fact that:
GOD IS THE ONE WHO PURCHASED YOUR SALVATION
God knew that there was no way that we could get to Him on our own. Our works, our morality, our own righteousness would never be enough. We needed a sacrifice for our sins and that sacrifice had to be perfect and acceptable to Him. Therefore, God gave His only Son to be that perfect sacrifice. (John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.)
Not only did God love us enough to send His Son to die in our place, the Son loved us loved us so much that He left His rightful position in Heaven, humbled Himself, took on a body of flesh, and came to earth to give His life as a ransom on our behalf. Peter says that Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). It is because of the price that Jesus paid that we are redeemed. (Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace)
- God planned your salvation, He purchased your salvation, and:
GOD IS THE ONE WHO PROTECTS YOUR SALVATION
The word “saved” means to be rescued from all harm and danger. If there is any chance that I will face God’s wrath, judgment and condemnation then I am not truly saved. It may sound simplistic, but if I cannot work to earn my salvation, I cannot work to keep my salvation. I am saved because God planned and purchased my salvation and I rest in the fact that He is the One who protects my salvation and gives me assurance of eternal life. (Furthermore, if my salvation contingent on my works and my own righteousness and if there is any chance that I can lose it, then it cannot be called eternal!) Jesus said (concerning His sheep) in John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
If you are saved, God has done and is doing a divine work in your life; He had saved you, you are secure and He is also currently doing a work of sanctification in your life. Let’s consider:
GOD’S DIVINE WORK CONCERNING YOUR SANCTIFICATION
The word “sanctify” literally means to set something apart for special use. To “sanctify” a person is to make him (or her) holy. Sanctification is the process in a Christian by which the Holy Spirit brings the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man. It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry out this work.
In salvation God granted us justification, which is a once and for all, positional holiness in Christ. When we were converted, we were set apart by God and for God. Though Christ, we are justified and our sins are forever washed in His blood. However, this positional holiness is only the begging of a lifelong process. This leads us to the fact that:
SANCTIFICATION IS A PRESENT WORK
Those who are “in Christ” are currently being sanctified. The Holy Spirit is presently working in our lives, through many different methods to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. He (the Spirit) is working things together in such a way that we will grow, mature and live lives that are holy and pleasing to God.
- This is a present work and the Bible tells us that:
SANCTIFICATION IS PERSISTENT WORK
As a potter consistently breaks bends and fashions clay into a vessel of his choosing, throughout our lives God breaks us and molds us into vessels that will bring Him honor and glory. Sometimes we may be blinded by our circumstances but we have a loving Father who has saved us for a purpose and He is orchestrating the events of our lives in such a way that we will become more and more like His dear Son. (Romans 8:28 we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.)
We can rest in the fact that God is in control and He will carry this work on unto completion. Paul referenced the persistent work of God in the lives of the Philippians in Philippians 1:6; he said, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” God is persistent and the process of sanctification will continue until we are at home with Him in eternity. God’s plan for your life begins at your conversion with salvation, His plan brings justification, it involves sanctification, and it will continue until your glorification.
In sanctification God guides us to maturity and we are involved in a progressive holiness (so to speak); in the future we will experience glorification. Glorification speaks of a permanent, ultimate holiness; therefore the sanctification process will not be complete until we are home in Heaven.
God has a divine plan for your life, He has worked a great work concerning your salvation, He is doing a great work concerning your sanctification, and He also does a great work conceding your service for Him. Lastly, I would like to examine:
GOD’S DIVINE WORK CONCERNING YOUR SERVICE
If you have been saved you were saved for a purpose; you were saved to serve the Lord and to bring Him glory. If you have a desire to serve Him in any capacity, this is a God given aspiration. Verse 13 makes it clear that:
GOD GIVES YOU THE DESIRE TO SERVE HIM
v13 it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Through the Holy Spirit, God reveals His plan for your life. He prompts you to live and serve for His glory. He will guide you and show you where He would have you to go and what He would have you to do for Him. There are times when God reveals His will for our lives and the task seems impossible. And, if we attempt to do these things in our own power it probably will be. But if we will submit to Him, He will do His work through us!
- Not only does God give us the desire to serve Him, Paul goes on to tell us that:
GOD GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO SERVE HIM
v13 it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
If you desire to please God and to be obedient to His will, it is imperative that you walk in the Spirit and remain in close fellowship with Him. Many Christians genuinely want to serve the Lord; however, they decide what they want to do and begin to serve God in their own way and in their own power.
The desire to serve the Lord is honorable, but we must also have (and follow) His direction. Christians have a tendency to get ahead of God sometimes. When we do this, we find ourselves in the wrong place or even in the right place at the wrong time; and usually we are doing the wrong thing. Doing the wrong thing even with the right motives can cause serious harm and greatly hinder Kingdom progress. We must be sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit, for if we are not where He wants us to be, we cannot expect Him to empower us to do something He has not called us to do!
In Acts 16, Paul and his associates had an intense desire to minister in Asia but the Holy Spirit would not allow this. There was nothing wrong with their desire; their motives were pure. They wanted to reach the people of Asia with the Gospel. However, God had other plans, much greater plans in fact! If they had ignored the direction of the Holy Spirit and continued on their planned journey, they would have failed miserably; they may have attempted to serve God but they would have done so without the power of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, God had already begun to set things in order for them to minister in the region of Macedonia. If they had not been sensitive and obedient to God’s direction, we would not have the very book that we are reading today!
You may have a desire to do great things for the Lord; if so, it is because He has done a divine work in your life. But it is vital that you seek His direction and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. If you will be sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit, God can use you to accomplish amazing things for Him. And if you do accomplish anything for Him, never forget that it is only because of His divine work in your life.
It is a privilege to belong to the Lord and it is a tremendous honor to serve Him. If you don’t belong to Him, I encourage you to repent and believe in His Son Jesus Christ today. Surrender to Him as Lord and be converted. If you are saved, remember that God has done, is doing and will do a great work in and through your life.
God Has Done A Divine Work Concerning Your Salvation
God Has Done A Divine Work Concerning Your Sanctification
God Has Done A Divine Work Concerning Your Service
I encourage you to praise Him for His divine work in your life!
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