Philippians chapter 2, read verses
12 and 13 with me. Wherefore, my beloved, Philippians
2, verse 12, wherefore, after all that he said of our Lord
Jesus Christ, his service toward us, his work of redemption for
us, wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, Now, much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God
which worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. The title of the subject here
is Working Out God's Work. Working Out God's Work, that's
what it says. Work out your own salvation for it This work is
God in you. Now you who listen to preaching
and teaching here know full well that we preach and believe salvation
is of the Lord 100,000%. All of it. Election by the Father, redemption
by the Son, and regeneration by the Holy Spirit. God purposed
salvation, Christ purchased salvation, and the Holy Spirit applies salvation. It's not a cooperative effort
between us and God. No, you who were dead, you had
he quickened who were dead and trespassed the sand. It's the
work of Jesus Christ on Calvary's tree alone, when he had by himself
purged our sin. By grace are you saved through
faith, and that's not of yourself. It's the gift of God, the working
of his mighty power. That's clear, isn't it? The Holy
Spirit comes and gives us life, gives us repentance, gives us
faith, gives us fruit, creates a new creature in us. It's not
of us. Not unto us. Not unto us, but
unto Him be all the glory. Salvations of the Lord. Every
part of it. Of Him are you in Christ Jesus,
who of God is made unto us. Everything. All things. Wisdom,
righteousness, sanctification. You don't sanctify yourself.
He sanctifies us. He is our sanctifier. And redemption. And you don't progressively sanctify
yourself. That's not in the Bible. This
is His work. I say all that one time. That's
all I'm going to say. One time. You know what's up.
You know that's what we preach. And we preach what scripture
says, by grace you say, through faith. And that's not of yourselves. It's a gift of God. Not of works,
lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good work. What is salvation
all about? to create a new creature in us
like Jesus Christ. Full of good works. That's it. That's what salvation
is all about. We, we're by nature children
of wrath, even as others, serving our own lusts, serving ourselves,
serving the world, serving the God of this world, Serving ourselves
by God. Such were some of you, but you're
washed, you're cleansed, you're the new creature. Created not
to serve sin or self, but to serve God. Right? That's what salvation is all
about. That's what salvation is all about. Now here's the
mystery. It's a paradox. But God's people know this. I can't explain it, but this is
the way it is. I'm going to try to explain it. If you do anything
good, it's not you. It's God which worketh in us,
both to will and do of His good pleasure. That's a new creature. born of God, a new creation,
created in the image of Christ. And even John says that new creature
can't sin. It cannot sin, that new creature.
There's still an old man, and that's you. When Paul said, I
know that in me, that is, in my flesh, my old nature. Well, that's no good thing. And
that's the fellow who can't do anything he wants to do but sin. He said, but there's a new law,
a new man in there. He said, and I serve the law
of God with that new man. It's a new man, born of God,
his creation. You had nothing to do with it.
You had nothing to do with its birth, this new man. You have
nothing to do with its maturity or perfection. He that hath begun
a good work in you will perform it, will perfect it, will finish
it. He's the one that started it,
and He's not going to say, well, here, you finish it. It's His
work. It's His glory. I said I wasn't
going to say it. I'm still repeating what I just
said. Because no flesh is going to glory in His presence. No flesh. Now this verse 13 says,
it's God which worketh in you, both to will and do of his good
pleasure. That does away with free will, doesn't it? It's not
of him that willeth, but of him that runneth. Commit these passages
to memory. Alright? Romans 9, 16, Philippians
2, 13. Commit them to memory. John 1,
12, and 13. Not of the will of the flesh. This does away with free will.
Anybody brings up free will, bring up these scriptures. What's
the scripture say? Alright? Psalm 110 verse 3, commit
that to memory. It is, thy people shall be willing
in the day, when? When they decide. In the day of thy power. He gets
all the glory. He's not going to share his glory.
Not going to share it with them, alright? It's clear to us, isn't
it? It's clear, though it's still
a mystery. I understand it, though I really
don't. It's too nature. That being said,
our Father, our Lord, the Spirit of God, tells us what to do. Like any good Father does, right? Don't do this. Do that. Not to
be saved. Not, if you do this, you'll be
my son or daughter and I'll accept you. No, no, no, no. We're accepted
how? In the Beloved. We're made, we're
adopted by God. We don't make ourselves adoptable. No. We don't make ourselves savable,
acceptable. We're accepted in the beloved.
It's His Word. It's His choice. It's His Word.
The Heavenly Father tells His sons who are living creatures that hear His voice
to do this and not do that for His glory, not to be saved, but
for His glory, for His cause, for His people, for His sons'
namesake. That's right. As obedient children. As obedient children. Alright,
look at verses 2 and 3 again. He says, Fulfill ye my joy that
ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord
and of one mind. Let nothing be done. Whatever
you do, don't do it in strife or vainglory. But in lowliness
of mind, let each esteem other better than himself. Here's something
to do. Look not every man on his own thing, but every man
also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ. And he goes on to tell us what
Christ did. This is what Christ did. His
work saved us. His work was for us, on our behalf,
all that he did for us. And so he says that he was a
servant. He took upon himself a form of
a servant made in the likeness of men. Scripture says the Lord
Jesus Christ went about doing good. He healed everyone that
had need of healing. His tender mercies over all His
work, everybody that came to Him, He helped them, didn't He? Doesn't mean He saved them, but
He did unto others. Everything. Anything that's asked
of him by anyone, he did it. Sermon on the Mount is full of
things that he tells his people to do. If they sue you, don't. Ask for your coat, give them
your cloak also. And on and on it goes. Ask you
to walk a mile, walk two. And on and on it goes. That's
what he did, didn't he? He gave himself. Says, if you
have two coats, give one of them to him. Well, he did more than
that. He took the only coat he had
off his back. Stripped himself. And this is what we're told to
do. What? To earn heaven? No, no. In gratitude, in thanksgiving. to Him who did so much for us. You want to serve? How? You want
to do something? It's like someone who's done
so much for you. You want to do something in return,
don't you? I want to do something. Well,
our Lord, this is what He tells us to do. Serve His cause. Serve His people. Alright, look
at verse 12. This is what this is saying.
My beloved, you've always obeyed. And why does anyone obey because,
well, He makes His children who are disobedient be obedient. He always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence. Work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling. He talks about obedience. Look
at 1 Peter 1. Scripture speaks a lot about
obedience. You know that? I don't know why
anyone who calls himself a believer would not want to hear that. Do you? It seems to me it would
be a rebel who wouldn't want to hear about obedience. Scripture
says, children, obey your parents. A loving child wants to do that,
don't they? They don't always do it, do they?
Oh, no. But they sure want to. If they don't, what do they do?
If they don't and are not obedient, what do they do? They say, I'm
sorry. They repent, forgive them. Does
a parent forgive a child? Absolutely. Absolutely. Every time. Write it down. Every time. And what does he
say? Go and sin no more. Okay, I won't. Well, but the fact is, you want
to be obedient. There was a time when you didn't
want to be obedient. No, no. I'm not going back. That's the rebel one. Not me.
I'm not going to submit to anybody. I'm my own man. Children of wrath,
even as others. Not now. Obedient children. You understand me? Servants,
be obedient to your masters in all things. These are scriptures
I'm quoting to you. Obey them that have the rule over you.
He's talking about church men. Young women, teach the young
women, he told Titus and Timothy, to be discreet, chaste, keepers
at home, good, teach them to be good. Obedient to their own
husbands. That's what it said. We still
use that in the marriage ceremony. Modern man has taken that out
a long time ago, obey your husband. Well, it's Bible. And we're going to say it. Because
that's what every wife wants to be. And should be, right? It's a picture of Christ and
His church. And here's why. He says, be obedient to your
own husband that the word of God be not blasphemed. Blasphemy. Alright, salvation
is for the Lord to take a rebel and change him into an obedient
son. Huh? Was Christ obedient? Is that not what you admire about
Him? If you love Him, you want to be just like Him. I had an
older brother, two brothers, but my oldest oldest brother
was just, he was absolutely My hero. I looked up to him. Oh, how I loved him. I wanted
to be just like him. I remember as a young boy, he'd
lift weights and I'd lift weights. Always looking to him. Always
looking at him. Wanted to look like him. Wanted to sit like
him. Wanted to talk like him. Wanted to walk like him. Wanted
to be just like him. Wanted to grow up and be just
like him. That's exactly what Christ's
people want to be. Look at 1 Peter 1 verse 14. As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance. You know,
we used to want to be like our peers, be like everybody else. You children of the 60s and 70s,
we fancied that we were free. You wanted to be just like everybody.
You wouldn't be caught dead not dressing or acting or doing just
like everybody else. Same way today. No different. Everybody wants to be like. They
want to be different. God's people want to be just
like Jesus Christ. Not like His work. That's what
He said in Romans 12. Be ye transformed by the renewing
of your mind. Not conformed to this world,
but rather transformed. Verse 14, as obedient children. Verse 15, as He which hath called
you is holy, so be ye holy. Be like Him. In all manner of
conversation. That means life, conduct, attitude,
spirit, actions, words, thoughts, deeds. Anything wrong with that?
Oh my! It's wonderful. He tells us to
do it. You know what God gives the command
to do? He gives the grace. Because it
is written, be ye holy. I'm holy. If you call on the
Father, read on. If you call on the Father, who
without respect to person, judges according to every man's work, read on. Pass the time of your
sojourn here in fear. Fear. Alright, go back to our
text in Philippians 2. We've looked at this so many
times, and I have, and I've taught it, but I've learned something
here. Philippians 2, verse 12. It says, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling. This working is not to save yourself,
but working or doing what you're saved to do. You're not working
to save yourself. You're working and striving to
do what He tells you to do. Let this mind be in you. 1 Peter 4. Go over there real quickly.
1 Peter 4. Look at this. What is the work
of a believer? Like Christ, it was serving God's
cause. It was serving His people. We're
going to see it in a minute. Salt and light. Our purpose,
our work on this earth. And to be a witness for Christ. To serve like Jesus Christ. That's
the work of a believer. To serve like Christ. He just told us what Christ did
for us. His work for us. His saving work for us. Alright? And this is the work He does
in His people that they're called to do. Not to save anybody. Not to save yourself. But for
His glory. His honor. Look at 1 Peter 4,
verses 2 and 3. Now, the person whom Christ has
died for, crucified for, he should no longer live the rest of his
time in the flesh to the lust of men. Right? But to the will
of God. You're not your own. You bought
with a price. You used to work for yourself. But not now. You work for somebody
else. You've got to know the Master.
In the time past of our life, verse 3, it would suffice us
to have wrought the will of the Gentile. We've walked in lasciviousness,
love, excess of wine, revelry, manquity, abominable idolatry. I'm walking that way now. They
think it's strange you don't run with them. Why? What's a
believer's work? What are they called to do? I
go back to our text. What are they called to do? Go
back to our text. Now he says, it's God that worketh
in you. Verse 13. It's God that worketh
in you. Thank God. He didn't, Christ
says, without me you can do nothing. It's God that worketh in you,
both to will and do of his good pleasure. So do all things without
murmuring or disputing, that you may be blameless, harmless,
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation among whom, here it is, you shine as lights in
the world, holding forth the word of life. This is the believer's
work. Go in all the world and preach
the gospel. He told his disciples, go in all the world, freely you've
received, freely give. I served you. I saved you. I purchased you. You're not your
own. You're bought with a price. You
work for me now. Here, go to work. Go out and
testify of me. Go out and live for me. Go out
and represent me. Go out and be salt and light.
Don't serve yourself. Don't serve your own glory. Don't
serve your own cause. Don't serve... Paul lamented,
look at verse 21 here in our text. All seek their own, not
the things which are Jesus Christ. He lamented that, didn't he?
It seemed like everybody was out for himself. Paul wasn't. Was he? No, he wasn't. Timothy wasn't. He said, Timothy
will care for you. I know he said, he's like me.
Oh, but he said so many. Seems like everybody's out for
himself. God didn't save the people to live for themselves. He's saving to live for His glory.
Live for His people. Live for His cause, like every
member of the body. Paul deals with this all through
the Scripture. Every member of the body serves
the body, and all the body serves the head. Let this mind be in
Him. Work at it. Strive. Not working
to save yourself, but doing what He He tells us to do for His
glory and His honor. A witness means thoughts, salt
and light. The word let is in the Scriptures
often. Let this mind be in you. I preached
a sermon one time on let us, let us, let us. It's seven or
eight let us. Let us fear. Let us do this and
that and the other. It says let this mind be in you.
The word let means submit. The word let means just that. Let not sin reign in your mortal
body. Let the word of Christ dwell
in you richly. It says things like this quite
often, let, let. Never says you let God save you. Never says that. Never says let
Jesus in your heart. It does not say that. One time, John 15, when our Lord
was washing His disciples' feet. Remember this? He washed His
disciples' feet. And oh, we've looked at that.
That's a picture of salvation. Who Christ was and where He came
from. How He took off that robe of
glory and girded Himself with an old common towel. A robe of
flesh. Why? soul unto death like that water
into that basin. And what did He do with that
water? He washed His disciples. That's His blood. It's all a
picture of salvation. But it's also, He said, do you
know what I've done to you? After He washed their stinking
feet? They needed it. Their feet needed it. It wasn't a show. They needed
it. They needed their feet washed.
It was soothing. It was helpful. It was beneficial. It was a good
work with it. Good work. Well, he said, do
you know what I've done to you? He said, if I, your master and
Lord, have done this for you, do this. You do this. And he
said, listen, here's what he said. If you know these things,
you know these things, happy are you if you do them. It's more blessing to give than
to receive. Alright, now look at our text.
He says, do this, verse 12, with fear and trembling. Work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling. Fear God. Fear
sin. He said there, do it not just
in my presence. If they weren't doing it, When
he was not around, then why were they doing it? To be seen. For praise. Right? The best works
are those that are anonymous. This is why our Lord said, don't
let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Do
it as unto the Lord. Not to be seen of men. He said
the Pharisees, that's what they wanted to happen. And prayers,
everything to do is to be seen of men. And that's their reward.
The glory, the praise of men. He said, not you. No, you're
doing this out of praise, gratitude, thanksgiving to your Lord. It's
not men you want to see, it's your Lord you want to see. Not
for merit, but for... Do you ever give something to
somebody, you don't give it anonymously, because you want them to know,
this is for you. I love you. Sometimes someone does something
for me, and I want to know who did it. Don't you? So you can
thank them. So you can know who it is that
really loves you. Right? It's not for the praise
of God, but Lord, I want you to know. It's not much, but I
love you. Well done. You know what he said? Well done. But you know what? God's people are never conscious
of doing anything for Him. They never take credit doing
anything for Him. Our Lord said this one time. He said, when I was naked, you
clothed me. When I was in jail, you visited
me. When I was hungry, you fed me.
When I was sick, you visited me. And His people said, I don't
remember doing that. When did we do that? They did it, but why did they
do it? Not so God would be pleased with
them or see them, you know, merit badges. But they just did it
because it needed to be done out of love and concern and care. And then when He acknowledged
it and commended it, I don't remember. No. Well, if I did
it, I don't remember. Well, on the other hand, Pharisee,
make sure I get credit for this. When did we not do it? We did
it all. We did many wonderful works in your name. He said, no, it wasn't. It was
in my name. It was for your glory. Cast them out of here. So, you
know, God's people And do it with fear and trembling. Meaning,
you fear God, you fear glory in Him. You fear not doing it. Don't you fear not doing it? Do you fear bringing reproach
on your Lord? Don't you fear that? If you love your Father, you
don't want to bring reproach on His name, do you? You fear
doing that. Fear not doing what He said.
Fear pride. You fear pride in self-righteousness.
You fear doing something for your own glory. You fear doing
it in self-righteousness. You fear
that. Do you understand? Well, do it in fear and trembling.
Serve the Lord, Psalm 2 says, with fear. Rejoice with trembling. Fear and trembling. I think only
God's people understand that. Well, listen to this. Let me turn for you real quickly.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15, listen to this. No one served and worked like
Paul did. Nobody. Nobody. Listen to this. 1 Corinthians
15, and he said this. He said, by the grace of God,
I am what I am. And His grace, which was bestowed
upon me, as God that worketh in them, was not in vain. I labored
more abundantly than them all. I did more than all of them,
didn't I? Yet, not I, but the grace of God. Which was
with me. You know why he labored so abundantly?
Because he said, I'm the worst. I'm the chief upsetter. I don't
deserve. I'm not fit to be called a disciple.
I'm less than the least. I'm persecuted at church. I was
a blasphemer, injurious. I've got to make up for some
lost time. I've got to undo some things I did. Yet not I, but
by the grace of God, I'm going to go around and tell everybody
that I did injury to. I'm going to try to heal them. Now, undue by the grace of God,
I'm going to tell him this message. He went everywhere refuting the
Word of God, blaspheming the name of God. Now he says, I'm
going to go everywhere I blaspheme and try to glorify it now. Do you understand something about
that? I tried to do the same. My old friends, I tried to When I was a young rebel back
in the 60s and 70s, I told some friends of mine, I denounced
my father's religion, his preaching. And I was espousing things like
Eastern religion and Hinduism, all this crap. And then the Lord
revealed Himself to me. Well, then I went around trying
to find those fellas. Find them all, whatever I said
to them, undo it. Now undo it. Galatians 2, listen to this.
Paul said in Galatians 2 verse 20, I am crucified with Christ,
nevertheless I live, yet not I. But Christ liveth in me, and
the life which I now live and the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. That's what that says. Has God
saved you? Why? Not to keep us out of hell. Get the hell out of us. You know
what? Not a fire escape. Not diplomatic
immunity. Are you with me? It's God. Here's the good thing.
We despair of ourselves. We find in ourselves no good
thing. And we think, I can't do anything. But it's God that works that.
Look to will and do. And He's as near as a call. He's
as near as a call. A brother and I were talking.
He has a business. And I have a business. About
my father's business. And people drive up all the time.
People drive up to his business. And he told me, I'm praying.
As soon as I see a car pull up, I'm praying, Lord, give me the
wisdom to deal with him. Give me the wisdom. Give me the wisdom.
Don't let me, don't let me lash out. Don't let me bring reproach. Don't let me. Give me wisdom.
I do the same thing. People pull in his parking. Oh,
Lord, give me the wisdom. Give me the grace. Give me words
to say. Is that what you do, wherever
you are, whatever you do? Lord, give me wisdom. Don't let me bring reproach on
you. Don't let me. Well, here's the
good thing. It's God's work of God. I can
do all things through Christ with strength. To do of his good
pleasure. Do all things without murmuring.
Look at it. Do all things without murmuring
and disputing. That brings more reproach. on
our Lord at any time. You know that? God didn't let
the children of Israel go into the promised land because all
they did was murmur and complain. They had nothing to murmur and
complain about. Everything to be thankful for.
Do you remember where he found them? What they were, who they
were, where he found them, and what all he did for them? He
reminded them of Deuteronomy. Do you remember what all I've
done for you? Have you forgotten all my mercy,
all my grace? Yes, they did. And all they did
while they had a tent. They had tents. Nice little places,
warm and dry. And the Lord provided everything
for them. Well, they didn't like their tents. And they didn't
like this manna. They wanted some other things.
And they murmured in their tents. And God said, OK, you're not
going into Brasovia. Do all things without murmuring
and complaining. That brings more reproach on
our Lord than anything. To murmur about anything. The
weather. The weather. Dan, is it so that people either
complain about too much rain or not enough rain? People in
the city of New York don't want it ever to rain. Don't want it
ever to rain. And they're not worried about
water. Water comes from a spigot, you
see. Water comes from the city. You turn it on, there it is.
Man provides us this water. No, God does. From heaven. You talk about a miracle. You
talk about a wonder of water, of light, just comes freely down
from heaven. Oh, it's too much. Raining on
our parade. We were going camping this weekend.
Oh, you don't want me to fill the pools and you don't want
me to fill your wells and you don't want me to fill the lakes
and so forth so you can hit. All right. I'll dry it up. Shouldn't he? That is the chief judgment God
sent. upon this world every time. Droughts
withhold rain. And rain is such a picture of
everything God is. His grace, His mercy, His everything. Just freely let the sky pour
down righteousness. Mercy and grace. Not enough. Too much. Oh, don't let us ever
be guilty of murmuring or complaining about anything or anybody. The government. No, that's not what Romans teaches
us, Romans 15. The powers that be are ordained
of God. Right? That's the next message. Do all
without murmuring. Why? You can be blameless, harmless. See this? How are we going to
be presented blameless and faultless before the presence of God without
sin, without rebuke? He is going to present us false,
okay? Then why does he tell us this? He's not talking about presenting
ourselves before God, but men. Right? Let the gospel be not
blame. Let the God people say, you all
believe that you can be sovereign and great, yes we do. You believe
you're the only elect and going to be set, yes we do. Well, you
believe that then you can live any other way you want to. No,
we don't. No, we don't. We don't want to be blameless.
Harmless. Wise as serpent, harmless as
dove. Sons of God, without review, we represent our Heavenly Father.
We don't want to bring reproach on His name. Right? And in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, or nation, See, they're
looking for a reason to blaspheme God. Another reason. They're
looking for a reason to not believe the truth. Don't let them find
it in us. Peter wrote about that, didn't
he? You may suffer, but don't let
it be for your own meanness. Let it be for righteousness'
sake. And he said, we're in a perverse nation among whom we shine as
lights, holding forth the word of life. Remember, Paul said, I'm set
in defense of the gospel. I'm set for the defense of the
gospel. He said, it'd be an honor for me to lay down my life for
Christ and for the truth. I'm going to have a desire, he
said, to part and be with the Lord. And if this is the way,
to be sacrificed on the altar of his service, it would be wonderful. And every one of God's people
say the same thing. They love Him. They want to serve
Him. That's what this is all about.
That's what He's saying. Has God done a work in you? Has
God saved you? Why? What for? What's He saved
you to? What's He saved you from? What's
your purpose now? What's His all about? Why did He save us? And work
it out. Work it out in your own mind.
Does that clear that up? That's it for me. OK.