HOW TO WORK GOD’S WORD

“…WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling” – Philippians 2:12b

Not only must we know that God’s Word works, we must know HOW TO WORK GOD’S WORD: “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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Phil.2: 12-13). Some Christians try to turn what actually is their responsibility over to God. When something unpleasant happens, they quickly conclude, “It’s the will of God; that’s why He allowed it to happen!” They forget that the authority to change things on earth, and make life as fulfilling as God ordained, has been given to us. We can make our lives glorious by living out God’s Word.

The divine pattern is: God does the impossible in response to our doing the possible! God divided the Red Sea after Moses had stretched his rod of authority over the Sea. God crushed Goliath, but David had to use his catapult and stone to aim at the giant’s head. Both actions were accompanied by Faith Declarations. Moses declared: “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace” (Exo.14: 13b-14). The Lord then commanded: “Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea” (Exo.14:15b-16). Moses worked the Word!

While King Saul and the rest of Israel’s army were transfixed in fear, David the young shepherd assured Saul: “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine” (1Sam.17:32). Then, David shouted at Goliath:  “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands” (1Sam.17: 45-47).

Philippians 2:16 commands that we hold fast “the WORD of LIFE.” It is the Believer’s responsibility to work the Word! The Lord Jesus was unequivocal when He said, “…if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt.17:20b). That is, we can create a victorious life by acting our faith on the Word of God. He already gave each of us the measure of faith we require to effect the changes we desire. Again He says, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mk.9:23). Do you believe? If you do, then there lies before you a life of limitless possibilities. Put the Word to work in your life, and your Victory is sure.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb.11:1). Through the instrumentality of your faith, you can work out God’s Word in your life to produce divine results. You can become what God wants you to be, change what He wants changed, and achieve what you want to achieve in His Will! Faith is our currency and “power to perform” in God’s Kingdom. Faith is “the Victory that overcomes the world” (1Jh.5:4).