WHAT GOD WORKS INWARDS, YOU WORK OUTWARDS

       

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¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. - Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV

It is God who makes it possible for us to work out our salvation, He enables us by instilling in us the desire and the ability to obey Him; He enables us to walk in the good works that He has already prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10). Our part is to respond in obedience to His Word and to the leading of His Spirit within us.

We work out our salvation by reverently submitting to the Lordship of the Holy Spirit and not having any confidence in our flesh, our own self-efforts, that is. The fear and trembling spoken of by the apostle here simply refers to the humility aspect of our walk, we acknowledge that without Christ we can do nothing, but with Him we can do all things. It refers to not leaning on our own understanding but being totally dependent on the Author and Finisher of our faith, Christ the Lord.  

As we spend time in the Word and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit, we allow Him to work transform us into the image and likeness of Christ and that transformation will result in us walking in the good works which God has already prepared for us to walk in.

¹⁰ God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. – Ephesians 2:10 GW 

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Once we get the revelation of who Christ is, what He has done, who we are in Him, we can then, by His grace, order our lives accordingly. In prayer we commune with the Father through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer and the Word usher us into fellowship with God; as we hang out with him, His character rubs off on us, as it were; the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in our lives.  

It doesn't matter how many times you've failed, don't wallow in shame, guilt and condemnation, get up, dust yourself off, turn to Jesus your Savior and keep on going and growing. As God's dearly beloved child you're empowered and privileged to enjoy responding in obedience your Father's leading and that is His "good pleasure"!  

Remember, what He works IN you, you work OUT.   He’s given you the grace to do it!  

Blessings beloved!