Title Philippians 02:12-18 God's Pleasant Will
Contents
Bible Text ..... Philippians 2:12-18 / The Will of God
12 Therefore, my beloved, always obey, not only in my presence, but even more now in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
13 It is God who works in you, to will and to do for his good pleasure.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing.
15 For you are blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, to be a light among them in the world
16 To reveal the word of life, that I may have something to boast about in the day of Christ, that I run neither in vain nor toil in vain.
17 If I offer myself as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I will rejoice and rejoice with all of you.
18 In the same way, rejoice ye and rejoice with me.
◐Introduction◑
We have a will and a vision, but we must always ask whether the will is in accord with God.
1. God has a great will for us.
It makes us holy and blameless before him. This was the purpose when God chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3, 4). God wanted to establish a glorious church without wrinkle or blemish (Ephesians 5:27).
1) We must have faith in God's purpose.
At first, Mary did not believe about the annunciation of the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to Christ, but she confessed her faith, saying, "Nothing is impossible with God. Because it is the word of God, we must have faith that it will come true.
2) You must have aspirations and wishes for this grand and holy will.
The criterion for evaluating whether we are living a good life of faith can be seen by looking at whether we have a desire to live a holy life. God puts a wish in us and lets us do it.
3) God works in suffering.
When we realize this grand and great will of God, we can thank and rejoice in God even in our sufferings. James says, "Consider it all joy when you meet various trials, for you know that temptation produces perseverance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope" (James 1:2-4).
2. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling
This is a message to have faith, aspiration, and hope for God's grand and great will to be accomplished, and to go forward to salvation while rejoicing in the midst of suffering.
◐Conclusion◑
Let's become blessed saints who come closer to God by realizing God's grand and great will.