Click Here to Read Philippians 2:12-30

I really like the wording of verse 12 in the Amplified translation: “So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ].”  The phrase “work out your own salvation” can seem confusing, especially after reading in Galatians that we cannot earn salvation through works.  But Paul isn’t saying to work for our salvation, he is saying to work out our salvation.  What does this mean?

I like how the Amplified translation describes our salvation as something to cultivate.  Here are some definitions I found for the word “cultivate”: prepare and use (land) for crops or gardening; break up (soil) in preparation for sowing or planting; try to acquire or develop (a quality, sentiment, or skill); apply oneself to improving or developing (one’s mind or manners).  I’ve also heard the phrase “work out what God has worked in” in relation to this verse.  Salvation isn’t just a ticket into heaven (although do not allow that to minimize the miraculous gift that salvation is to us in any way!)  God has put gifts into salvation, and we need to uncover them and use them in our daily walk.  The blood of Jesus atoned for our sin, and because of his shed blood we can come boldly before the Throne of God, we can have this face-to-face relationship with our heavenly Father, we have been given the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead to dwell in us, we are a holy temple and a vessel that carries God’s power and glory!  God gave all of this to us, but it’s up to us to develop it and use it so that it will display Jesus in us for all the world to see.    

The work that we do is to partner with how Holy Spirit wants to change and develop us.  We let go of the things He says we don’t need to carry anymore; we allow Him to make adjustments to our habits and our mindsets that do not align with the thoughts and will of God for us, we walk with Him.  Where the Spirit leads, we follow.  What He asks of us, we obey.  And Paul says that we do this with fear and trembling.  A reverential fear of the Lord to me speaks of high levels of respect and honor. And by having this reverential fear of the Lord we are certain to stay in step with His Kingdom systems making Jesus, not the world, fully manifested in our lives.  We recognize that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways.  We live so that He is honored and glorified and that becomes the desire of our heart.  “God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases him.” (Phil. 2:13 TPT).  He will put it in us, but it is up to us to put what He puts in us into practice.  That is the only way we will bear fruit for Jesus.  Otherwise, we may be in danger of bringing dishonor to the name of Jesus.  I don’t know about you but that definitely makes me tremble and more attentive to my step!  

I’m always glad for some practical instruction that I can use to put principles into practice in my life.  Verses 14-16 gives us some good and valuable strategies we can implement (and again, I like it in the Amplified translation.) “Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God],so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness], holding out and offering to everyone the word of life…” (Phil. 2:14-16 AMP).  I will also add that the Passion Translation says, “Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves.”

I have found great benefit in reviewing the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness.  If you ever need reminding of how God feels about complaining and questioning His ways I recommend going back and reading about their 40 year-long journey (See Numbers 11, 12, 14, 16, 21, 25).  I’ll give you a little summary: it wasn’t supposed to take them 40 years, but because of their complaining God refused to let that generation into the Promised Land.  So, some of them were stricken with sickness, some were killed off by venomous snake bites, some were swallowed up by the earth… but God waited until that entire generation was wiped out (except for Caleb and Joshua) and He raised up a new generation to take into the Promised Land.  This is a lesson that I really try to be aware of daily, that my complaining can stop the flow of God’s blessing and provision in my life.  Division can do this also.  I’ve said this before, love and unity seem to be recurring themes throughout the Epistles of the New Testament.  Unity is essential for the body of Christ, we are to be one body governed by one Spirit united together in one Savior, Jesus Christ, the head of the body.

 I have discovered that if we have trouble staying in line with things like this that are important to God, all we have to do is ask Holy Spirit to help us overcome them.  Jesus overcame His soul and by His Spirit, we can overcome ours too!  This is part of that “my life was crucified with Christ” that Paul talks about often.  The more permission we give Holy Spirit to work in us the quicker we can put these bad habits and old mindsets behind us and embrace what God has for us.  Trust me, Holy Spirit is excited to help us and when we ask Him, He will get right to work.

 In the final part of this chapter Paul talks about two leaders that he wants to send to the Philippian Church to encourage and minister to them.  I think it’s important for us to observe Paul’s description of these two men because it speaks to the importance of the role of leadership in the body of Christ to have a servant’s heart for the body.  “Timothy is like no other.  He carries the same passion for your welfare that I carry in my heart…You already know about his excellent reputation, since he has served alongside me as a loyal son in the work of ministry.” (Phil. 2:20, 22 TPT).  Paul chose Timothy because he carried a great passion for the people and for what was important to Jesus rather than being concerned with what was best for himself.  And about Epaphroditus he says: “So warmly welcome him home in the Lord, with joyous love, and esteem him highly, for people like him deserve it.  Because of me he put his life on the line, despising the danger, so that he could provide for me with what you couldn’t, since you were so far away.  And he did it all because of his ministry for Christ.” (Phil. 2:29-30 TPT).  This guy was willing to die trying to get provision to Paul.  Sometimes we look at leaders as being at the top, but they really have a charge to serve and put others above themselves, demonstrating God’s love for His people.  And leaders will have to give an account to God for those under their care just like Jesus did in John 17:12, “Those whom you gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (NKJV). 

I just have to say, I am so grateful for those who have served; for those who have given of themselves to bring me in, to teach me, to pray for me, to impart wisdom, and to encourage me.  Mostly I am thankful for those who have taken the time to show me what God’s love looks like. 

Let’s pray.   

Father, we thank you for the gift of salvation.  We also thank you for the gifts in salvation that you have given to us.  We pray for an increase of our awareness of all that you have deposited in us, and a greater understanding of how to work them out in our lives.  Holy Spirit we give you permission to work in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases God.  We invite you to conquer us internally so that we can release a greater measure of your presence in our lives, that all whom we encounter may be touched by what we carry.  We thank you Father for the leaders that you have put in our lives, those who give of themselves continuously to serve and keep the body of Christ whole and strong.  We pray you would give them new revelation of your heart for your church, and we pray that you honor and bless them for their dedication and faithfulness to the ministry of Christ.  Without them we would all just be wandering in the wilderness generation after generation with no clue what to do.  Continue to guide and direct our hearts as we work with You to develop new habits and mindsets that align with your thoughts and will for us.  Impart to us a heart of thankfulness so that we don’t stop up the flow of your goodness in our lives.  We choose with our will, to say no to our soulish desires and invite Your Spirit to reign in us.  Amen.