Paul Exhorts the Philippians to Work out what God has
worked in Them Part 2
Philippians
2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His
good pleasure. KJVChristianity is defined by Webster as the Christian Religion or Christians as a whole or the state or act of being a Christian. However, this being a man-made definition of a Divine condition, then there is no wonder why the definition is vague, not precise, or not clearly understood. Religion on the other hand is defined by Webster as belief in and reverence for a supernatural power accepted as the creator of the universe or a specific unified system of this expression like the Buddhist religion. However, like all man-made things or man-made concepts or ideas, they are temporary, decaying, rotting, and are derived solely by theory or concepts that are not and cannot be verified as factual seeing that man is finite or limited in every capacity. My definition of Religion (Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus, etc.) is the act of man doing things to make himself known to and acceptable to God, gods, or goddesses in order to absolve or remove the guilty conscience that burns within over sin. The question that has been asked by many non-Christians for centuries with many varying answers is what is Christianity really? Well, the Apostle Paul gives us and answer in one small sentence, but very powerful sentence here in his only letter written to the believers or Christians in the city of Philippi and it is, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13).
Paul in only one small sentence written in a letter to men, women, boys, and girls that he loved dearly answers the question for all humanity. In this one tiny sentence, the Apostle Paul places Christianity in another entire category far from and opposite to Religion. The English word “worketh” Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word energeo which means to be active, efficient: - be effectual (fervent), be mighty in, work effectually in. In other words, from this one small word in this one small sentence we see the one dramatic difference from a Christian verses someone in a man-made Religion and that is the One True and Only God is actively working His Almighty power in us as it is written by this same Apostle Paul with these words to the Christians in Ephesus, “And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable {and} unlimited {and} surpassing greatness of His power in {and} for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places]” (Ephesians 1:19-20) (Amplified Bible).
The true Christian has God the Holy Spirit working or energeo on two fronts in the inner man or inner woman of the believer; first to will and this English word is translated by the Greek words thelo or ethelo meaning the first or the second form may be used, however, in the context here that Paul writes he uses the tense meaning to prefer or to determine (as an active voice); to delight in or to desire to or be disposed to; to gladly be willing. The second English phrased “to do” is the exact same Greek word from above for the English word “worketh” which is energeo. In other words, a true Christian has God the Holy Spirit not only working in us to desire to do that which is good and not evil, but He also gives the power/energy to carry out the good God the Father desires from His adopted children as the Psalmist writes in this manner with these words, “Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your power, in the beauty of holiness {and} in holy array out of the womb of the morning; to You [will spring forth] Your young men, who are as the dew.” (Psalm 110:3) (Amplified Bible) and also as the Prophet Haggai declares to the warriors of Israel with these words, “Yet now be strong, alert, {and} courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, {and} courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, {and} courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts. According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands {and} abides in the midst of you; fear not.” (Haggai 2:4-5) (Amplified Bible).
All the working of God the Holy Spirit in the inner man and inner woman of God the Father’s adopted children is of and for His good pleasure and this English phrase “good pleasure” is translated by one Greek word eudokia meaning satisfaction, that is, (subjectively) delight, or (objectively) kindness, wish, purpose: - desire, good pleasure. In other words, it brings great joy and delight to the heart of God the Father when He sees His children working out their salvation with reverence to Him desiring to please Him while He keeps us pilgrims here on the earth carrying out His Sovereign purposes in every corner of the earth for the good of all men, even the unredeemed as our Lord Jesus declared with these words, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45). It is likewise as the writer to the Hebrews put it in his closing prayer with these words, “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21) and as Paul prayed for the Thessalonian believers with these words, “Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).
My own Personal Note: “Here is the great paradox, ‘God does all in the inner man or inner woman at the same time man does all.’ This is a great mystery! Only God the Father Himself understands it fully, because He is the Author of it, but He has now made it known to us as Paul wrote with these words to the Ephesian believers, ‘Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed {and} set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times {and} the climax of the ages to unify all things {and} head them up {and} consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) {and} we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel {and} design of His [own] will, So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!’” (Ephesians 1:9-12) (Amplified Bible).
“Our will does nothing thereunto without grace; but grace is inactive without our will” [St. Bernard].
“We will, but God works the will in us. We work, therefore, but God works the working in us” (Augustine).
“Every good is freely given of God; no man deserves anything from Him; and as it pleaseth Him, so He deals out to men those measures of mental and corporeal energy which He sees to be necessary; giving to some more, to others less, but to all what is sufficient for their salvation.” Adam Clarke
“The fact that God works is an encouragement for us to work. When a man is about to set out a peach or an apple tree, it is an encouragement for him to reflect that the agency of God is around him, and that he can cause the tree to produce blossoms, and leaves, and fruit. When he is about to plow and sow his farm, it is an encouragement, not a hindrance, to reflect that God works, and that he can quicken the grain that is sown, and produce an abundant harvest. What encouragement of a higher order can man ask? And what farmer is afraid of the agency of God in the case, or supposes that the fact that God exerts an agency is a reason why he should not plow and plant his field, or set out his orchard? Poor encouragement would a man have in these things if God did not exert any agency in the world, and could not be expected to make the tree grow or to cause the grain to spring up; and equally poor would be all the encouragement in Christianity without His aid.” Albert Barnes
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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