“For God is at work IN you Giving you the DESIRE and POWER to Do what PLEASES Him”- {Phil 2:13 NLT.}
A Bad bad night, little sleep the Medical treatments for my muscle disease leave me so so washed out and exhausted, it feels as though my nerves are raw, nauseated, headaches that are at times blinding….and after the treatments It takes all I have at times, to make it to my bed-room and crawl into bed after them and try not to move as it is painful and energy sapping. And since I am already working off only 30 percent strength it doesn’t take much to wear me further out.
“But God…” in kindness as I awoke this morning, after a night of interrupted and little sleep, to face another day of treatments… brought a verse to encourage me… and as I meditated and looked at., I wrote down some thoughts, which help me get my mind on Him through the pain… and so I will share some of these thoughts hoping they encourage you that GOD Is at work IN You…. though you may not “feel” it, it can be manifested in a very practical way, when tempted…. Hope these encourage you
“GOD …IN you..”
Any “good” “DESIRE” to do His will and be involved in a GOOD work does not arise from the selfish heart but from a heart that is by God’s grace, which is His working in you producing such DESIRES and EMPOWERING you to carry it out- and this He does – for His good pleasure…It is His grace in action IN and Through you!
WHAT IS “A GOOD WORK?”
What defines “good?” Well, three aspects from the Scripture are ,
* GLORY – It is for His Glory, -{“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” -1 Corinthians 10:31}…
* LOVE – It comes from a heart of love,{ “Let all that you do be done in love.”- 1 Cor 16:14}
* OTHERS BENEFIT – It is beneficial for the other individual… { “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us DO GOOD to ALL people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. “-{Gal 6:10 }… ….”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”- {Phil 2:3-4 }
These three separate what is “good’ from God’s perspective versus what is a “good’ deed from someone outside of Christ, who is not doing it for the glory of God, or for a heart of love for Him extending to others, exhibited to benefit someone without seeking or demanding anything in return. Yet as Christians we to can do likewise at times, and must be acknowledged, owned as sin and repented of and know God has given us everything we need for life and Godliness so we can be changed and choose to obey Him.{Read 2 Peter 1:3-4}…Knowing a “Good work” from Scripture, that it is God centered and others Highest benefit the focus for His glory! To have such a GOOD, GODLY DESIRE and to be EMPOWERED to carry out such a “good” work” is the work of God IN Action in a persons desire and will, whom God is working IN and through! It is a complete change of direction and newness of life with new DESIRES and NEW POWER to live such a life as a gift from God through the Holy Spirit, that is manifested… and the motivation ? “For His GOOD PLEASURE!”
The word, “FOR” is a term of explanation to what has been previously said about working out – not working FOR, but working OUT what God is working in your salvation.-{Phil 2:12}.
It is GOD who saved you and has not left you to work it out in your own power, though we often try, to great frustration and discouragement, or leads to legalism! But He continually, { as it is grammatically in the verse… He is continually working} …works IN you these GOOD AND GODLY DESIRES and gives you His ABILITY, POWER to live the Christian life. How wonderful, today, yes you can work out your salvation because God is working IN YOU! It is not “let go and let God” but Know our responsibility is to trust Him, and Do what He is working and equipping us with and for… NEW DESIRES AND POWER, FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE…Our responsibility is as someone said “our response to His Ability.”
WHERE IS GOD WORKING TODAY? You might have to think about that for a minute… Hmnn, you might think perhaps of some far off or different countries, but the truth is wherever a Christian is – There God IS working… for His pleasure! How comforting and encouraging the thought of the truth of Philippians 2:13!
EVIDENCE OF GOD AT WORK IN YOU?
And do you know the first thing, evidence, He gives of working out, working IN you?… He says to stop complaining and arguing! How amazing that the evidence of working out your salvation is to STOP Complaining, STOP Arguing! “…Do all things without grumbling or disputing;”-{Phil 2:14} “DO” is a command and is to be continuous as the lifestyle you are to live out… DO CONTINUALLY …
How Practical…. and the reason to stop, is so that you may PROVE you are His! It is a TESTIMONY… the fact He is working IN You… that is at stake to those around you! “…so that you will PROVE yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as LIGHTS in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.”-{Phil 2:15-17}…
PROVE YOURSELVES TO BE
* Children of God
* Above reproach
* APPEAR as LIGHTS– Appear speaks of shining forth continuously , as the stars. Be as shining examples in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation! Lights the word is not speaking of “this LITTLE light of mine” but speaking of a huge Light. Like the Sun, Moon…the word is used in Genesis 1:16. It is and Can be VISIBLE and No doubt about It!
FALSE CONCEPTS EXPOSED versus PRACTICAL DAILY LIVING
You would think that what we would conjure up and conclude in our minds would lead to some “Great work for God,” that He has in mind, and He does. But we may not have His same perspective, this is why we must renew our way of thinking so as to influence the direction and choices we make in the way we conduct ourselves. We might conclude God is working IN us for some “great, difficult assignment,” something like going to the other side of the world or climbing up a mountain backwards carrying someone {Obviously I’m being a bit far fetched but trying to show how our minds go that it must be some “great thing,” that is obviously out of our reach. It is unattainable we “feel.”}. But He brings it down to where they lived and we live on a daily basis and is PRACTICAL… and is for a TESTIMONY that you are His… and that is… “STOP Complaining… STOP ARGUING” and affecting the unity of believers… ” “For God is at work IN you Giving you the DESIRE and Power to Do what Pleases Him”-
God motivates us with planting the DESIRE in us and EMPOWERS us to carry out those good, Godly desires…. and if at times, we don’t have the DESIRE? We ask Him and He will give, because it is Pleasing to Him, who is forever For you!
* HOW can you TESTIFY you are HIS today?
STOP COMPLAINING… STOP ARGUING!
* WHY do this?
it is Pleasing to Him, and is a testimony He is working IN you! {“Pleasure”- {Eudokias} expresses enjoyment and satisfaction.}
* WHERE Does the Desire and Power come from?
God is the author and Empowering through His Spirit working IN you.
* WHY Does God do this?
“For His Good PLEASURE”- It is not a chore, nor is it with reluctance but it is PLEASURABLE to GOD to save you and continue to work IN You…how intimately acquainted He is with you, that He continually performs His work IN you.
BE ENCOURAGED WITH- GOD’S CHARACTER.
“FOR GOD is at work IN You giving you the DESIRES and POWER … to DO what PLEASES Him!”
You are not alone, or on your own. For God is Pre- eminent, Present, Powerful, Personally acquainted with you and for you! God Promises… God is working IN you, and the world you live in, those closest to you can benefit, as He has raised you up and brought you to Himself…in this generation having chosen your time and place of birth, and salvation and now His sanctification work IN you in the process of changing you to be His LIGHT and PROVE you are His to those around you.
- “BUT GOD…”
It is One thing to have the DESIRES to do Good…. but without Power is mere wishful thinking and leading to frustration “BUT GOD…” who supplies these new Desires also provides His POWER to enable you to execute these desires… for His good pleasure He does this. How encouraging and wonderful You have the POWER and the DESIRES… LIVE IT OUT! KEEP DOING GOOD.
- CHOOSE to say NO to COMPLAINING
- CHOOSE to say No TO ARGUING
- CHOOSE to say YES to Him knowing the Desire to do so comes from Him at work IN you and He gives you the POWER to follow Him…
- Know God is working IN you to these practical ends, to not only give you the desire but the Power.
WHY DOES HE DO SO?
“…For His good pleasure!”
“PLEASURE,” -{Eudokias} – “expresses great enjoyment and satisfaction.’
Hope this encourages you.. to have HOPE in Him, who is continually working IN you and through you…with new Good, GODLY DESIRES and POWER… for His good pleasure!
YOU ARE HIS BELOVED… HE NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU…
HE IS COMMITTED TO LOVINGLY WORK…IN… YOU… for HIS GOOD PLEASURE