WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION IN FEAR AND TREMBLING (Repost)

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. How does one get saved? Is it by saying the prayer of sinners? Is it by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Acts 16:31? Could it be by calling on the name of the Lord as stated in Romans 10:13? The first step to salvation is repentance. Without repentance there is no salvation. The bible says in Matthew 4:17, from that time Jesus began to preach and to say “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” After Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, the people asked him, what shall we do to be saved? He told them repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ – Acts2:38. After the healing of the lame man at the beautiful gate, people converged to the see the lame man and Peter used the opportunity to witness about Jesus. In his sermon, he said in Acts 3:18, “repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Brethren without repentance there is no salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 says The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Philippians 2:12 says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Does is it mean after I am saved I still have work to do in keeping my salvation? Yes. There are many who believes that once we are saved heaven is guaranteed. It is the biggest lie from the devil. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:22 that whoever endures to the will be saved. It is true that we saved by grace according to Ephesians 2:5 but Matthew 24:13 says it is only those who endure to the end that will be saved. Why do we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? The reason why we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling is because salvation can be lost. The grace that brings salvation could be abused. Romans 6:1 say what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6:15 says what then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not! The grace that brings salvation can also be frustrated. Paul says in Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Abusing the grace of God or frustrating the grace can lead to withdrawal of grace which eventually means fall from grace of God. According to Galatians 5:4, it is possible to fall from the grace of God. It is also possible to miss the grace of God, Hebrew 12:15.
Many have argued that once we receive salvation we are sealed with the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13. It is very true but remember that Ephesians 4:30 says and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. If we grieve the Holy Spirit, He will leave.
ACTION POINT. Do everything possible not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Study Ephesians 4:25-32 and it tells us what to do to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit.

WHAT TO DO AFTER PRAYING.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 36, John 15, Prov 12, Eph 5

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Psalm141:1-4

 

Instead of complaining or grumbling to God, take that matter or challenge to God in prayer. Instead of worrying and asking ‘why me’, pray to God. Matthew 21:22 says and all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 

 

Many prayers are unanswered today as a result of the activities that takes place after prayer. Whether you believe it or not, what you do after praying can either cause the heaven’s to honor your request or ignore your request. Don’t expect a response from God if you walk straight into adultery or fornication after praying. Don’t expect God to rebuke devourers for your sake if after a praying you refuse to pay your tithes. Actually the most delicate time is moments after praying, that is when the enemy attacks most. This is why you have to guide your heart against evil thoughts or avoid quarrels after praying because the enemy uses that a lot to rob many of their blessing. Exercise patience and avoid getting angry after praying, I pray the enemy will not rob you of your breakthrough. There are certain things you have to do after praying; failure to them may result in heavens not granting your petition. Remember, the enemy waits after prayers to rob many of their blessings. What did David do after crying to God in our bible studies? Firstly, he surrendered his life to God. After praying to God, surrender the matter to God. Secondly, he began to watch the words of his mouth. Many after asking God for a job will start to confess that the economy is hard and there are no jobs. It is what God hears you say that He will do, Numbers 14:28. It is unwise to go to God for a life partner, and after praying you begin to confess that it is hard to get a good woman or man. Many even do worse by confessing that there are no good men or woman around. After praying, begin to confess what you want. Thirdly and the most important thing he did was he did not allow evil thoughts in his heart. Philippians 4:8 says whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Not only, that David separated himself from ungodly friends and kept himself pure. Psalm 1:1 says blessed in the man who goes not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. After David did all these, heaven granted his petition and his joy was full. By the time we get to Psalm 145, we see David singing a psalm of praise. He sang a psalms of praise for the rest of the book of Psalm.

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, please purge me of every thoughts that does not glorify you.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

John 16:33 these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 34, John 13, Prov 10, Eph 3

 

A champion is the fellow that emerges a victor in a challenge, contest or competition. Long before you were born, Jesus has already overcome the world for you. You have already emerged a victor , long  before that challenge you are facing. Romans 8:37 says nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Whether you believe it or not, you are not a failure. Things don’t always go wrong for you; you are not a victim of circumstances ; something is not wrong with you ;the world is not always against you, do not accept this lie from the pit of hell. You have already secured victory over failure, Deuteronomy 28:13 says you shall be the head, not the tail. Your future is bright, Isaiah 3:10 says say to the righteous it shall be well with him. You healing is guaranteed, Isaiah 65:20 says there shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundreds years old.We are champions because  Jesus overcame the world for us. I read a Facebook status which says Christians are defending champions; we are not fighting for victory over the devil, we are fighting to retain in our victory .

 

The question is  how can I retain my victory in Christ? Firstly, live a life of holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Jeremiah 5:25 says your iniquities have turned these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. Secondly, believe in the Lord. Romans 10:10 says for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to them that belief. According to Hebrews 3:19, unbelief can shut the door of breakthrough on a man. Thirdly, confess your victory. Romans 10:10 says with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Numbers 14:28 says Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. Joel 3:10 says let the weak say I am strong. Confess what you want not what you are going through. Begin to confess your victory over that challenges you are going through.

 

KEYWORD: Christians are defending champions; we are not fighting for victory over the devil, we are fighting to retain in our victory.

WHEN BREAKTHROUGH IS CLOSE

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 33, John 12, Prov 9, Eph 2

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. One question we all ask is how can I tell when my blessing is at the door? I have prayed, fasted, sown seeds, made vows and fulfilled them e.t.c. how can I tell breakthrough is around the corner. I have been asking God for a fruit of the womb, or a life partner or a job or a promotion or a spiritual gift e.t.c, how do I know when I am about to get what I have been asking from God? 

Today we will be looking at two signs that tells you your breakthrough is around the corner. Firstly, an unusual burden to be generous to both God and men. In 2 Kings 4:8-17 is the story of the great Shunem woman and Elisha. This woman had been looking up to God for the fruit of womb for a long time. When her time came, she began to have an unusual desire to give or be generous. She invited the man of God to come in for a meal and that one refused; she did not take no for answer, the bible records that she constrained him to eat bread. This woman could not explain why but there was this deep desire to give, no wonder she took her giving to another level by building a house for the man of God; nine months later she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. Abraham waited on God for twenty-five years for the promise of a son. When his waiting period was about to be over, he too began to experience an unusual urge to give. He saw three strangers passing by; he ran to them and begged them to come into house for a glass of water. He did not feel comfortable with giving his guests water alone so he prepared food. Something arose in this ninety-nine year old man, and all he wanted to do was just give. We know the end of the story, exactly nine months later Isaac was born. Secondly, an unusual burden to pray. Hannah had been attending Shiloh for years, 1 Samuel 1:4-19. She would go with her family,offer burnt offerings and go back home but this particular year she had an unusual burden to pray. Whilst everyone was eating and drinking, she went into the temple and began to pour her heart unto God. She prayed to the extent even passers-by took notice of her, the man of God first thought she was drunk before he found out that she was praying over a matter. God spoke through the man of God and nine months later her joy was full. When Jesus was about to complete his mission on earth i.e. be crucified, He too had an unusual burden to pray. He began to experience a deep desire to pray; the more He prayed, the more He wanted to pray. He prayed to a point where His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground, Luke 22:44. Three days later, Jesus successfully completed this task and humanity was saved from the wrath of God. Brethren please do not joke with the urge to pray or do anything for God.

KEYWORD: Once you feel the urge to pray, drop whatever you are doing and just begin to pray if possible in tongue. Many have missed major breakthroughs by ignoring this urge.

OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

1 Timothy 4:7 but refuse profane and old wives fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 32, John 11, Prov 8, Eph 1

To fulfill God’s plan for our life, we need good health. Deuteronomy 28:13 says the Lord shall make you the head and not the tail. To be the head, good health is required. Leviticus 26:8 says five of you shall chase a hundred, and an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.  According to Deuteronomy 32:30, it is possible for a man to chase a thousand and two to put ten thousand to flight. Only a healthy man can challenge the enemy talk less of chasing a thousand of them. To pass that exams and graduate with good grades, you need good health. To start that project you have been talking about, you need good health. To complete it, you need good health. To be a Christian husband i.e. a man that provides for his family (1 Timothy 5:8), you need good health because only a healthy man can work very hard to cater for the needs of his family. To be a virtuous woman i.e. a woman that rises at least an hour before her household to prepare breakfast (Proverbs 31:15), you need good health. To achieve anything in life, good health is required. This is why the elders will always say ‘health is wealth’. Only the healthy can eat the fruit of their labour. This is why we all need to take the issue of our health very serious. Let’s cut down on sugar, drink more water. Do you know that 85 percent of headaches we suffer is as a result of lack of water in the body? No wonder they say ‘water is life’. Eat more vegetables, cut down on greasy foods and fizzy drinks / soft drinks. I read an article which said it is a fact that soft drink causes 180,000 deaths per year – 133,000 diabetes deaths and 44,000 deaths due to cardiovascular disease and 6,000 cancer deaths. We will not lose you to untimely death but please take good care of yourself and exercise.

Our physical health is important but our spiritual health is more important. John 6:63 says it is the spirit that quickeneth i.e. it is the spirit that gives life to our physical body. Just as we grow lean when we do not eat due to fasting, we grow lean spiritually when we do not eat our spiritual food. Just as our physical strength diminishes when do not eat for a long period of time, our spiritual strength diminishes too when do not feed spiritually for a long period of time. Just as our physical brain will shut down if we do not eat for a very long period of time, our spiritual brain shuts down when we do not feed spiritually for a very long period of time. There are many brethren who look physically ok but are spiritually gaunt i.e. they are thin and bony spiritually. What is this spiritual food? The word of God. Jesus Christ says in Matthew 4:4 ,’but It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ The word of God is not only a spiritual food but medicine to your physical flesh. According to Proverbs 4:20 &22, the word of God is health to the flesh. Not only that, it is a medicine for the soul. Psalm 107:20 says He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.

ACTION POINT: Begin to feed on the word of God.Read your bible more so that you will not be spiritually guant

DON’T STOP BECAUSE THERE IS A REWARD

Exodus 2:17 and the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 31, John 10, Prov 7, Gal 6

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-21

 

There is nothing as discouraging as an individual who does not appreciate a helping hand especially when you go out of your way to render the help. If the individual now repays your good deed with bad deed, you will be disgusted. This was the case of Moses. He was walking around minding his own business when he noticed an Egyptian mercilessly beating up a Hebrew boy. Out of pity he rushed to help this Hebrew boy. One thing led to another before you know it, the Egyptian fell and died. He buried the Egyptian and went on his way. The next day while passing by, he saw two Hebrew boys fighting. He approached the fellow at fault and appealed to him to stop hitting his brother and that one started to insult him. He even reminded him of the Egyptian he killed the day before and began to sarcastically beg him not to kill him like he killed the Egyptian. When Moses heard this he was very sad. He thought it was going to end there but it did not; these men informed Pharaoh and that one began to look for Moses to kill him. Moses had no choice than to run away. Moses got himself into trouble because he helped a Hebrew boy (his brother) who was about to be beaten to death by an Egyptian. This boy instead of thanking Moses for saving his life started spreading a rumor that Moses was a killer. The men of Israel instead of commending Moses for saving a Hebrew boy from death, went straight to report him to Pharaoh. Moses lost all he had as a result of this. He was a prince in Egypt, actually the theologians said he was next in line to the throne of Pharaoh but he lost all of this because he  rendered  help to a fellow Hebrew. He lost contact to his beloved mother and family, not only that he became a vagabond and a wanderer in the deserts. While he was wandering in the deserts, he saw some shepherds acting wickedly to some ladies. He defended these ladies and helped them get water from the well. Before the end of that day, God provided a house and a wife for Moses.

 

Today I want to admonish you that whatever good thing you are doing, please do not stop because there is a reward for it. People might not appreciate you. They may even repay evil for the good you have done to them like Moses but don’t stop doing good. Moses like anyone of us could have sworn never to render any help again in his life but he did not. Despite all he suffered, when another opportunity to render help came, instead of refusing to help he rendered help and the Lord rewarded him right on the spot. Don’t let the enemy convince you stop doing good. Thank God Moses did not get tired of doing good and quit been a good person. In your last relationship, people might have taken advantage of your kind heart, please do not grow a tough skin and become mean to people. Continue with your kind heart, the Lord that rewards people with a kind heart will reward you in Jesus name.

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, give me the grace to continue to do good even people repay it with evil.

HALF EVANGELISM

 

MEMORY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 9:22 to the weak I as weak that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 30, John 9, Prov 6, Gal 5

 

Asides praise and worship, one activity God loves so much and takes interest in is evangelism. No wonder He said in Luke 11:23, ‘he that is not with Me is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth i.e. whoever is not bringing people to Christ is sending people away from Christ. There is a great reward for those who witness about Christ in heaven. Here on earth, the Lord has promised that those who witnesses i.e. turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever, Daniel 12:3.

 

There is more to evangelism than approaching people and telling them Jesus loves them and wants to save them. Evangelism is not about just telling people that Jesus came to die for them and all. It is far more than that. Most of the time what we do is half evangelism. We tell people Christ loves them but we are not ready to demonstrate the love of Christ to them. We tell people Jesus saves but we are not ready to be the savior we talked about to them. I remember a particular experience while i was witnessing to a particular sister. I was praying and literally begging her to accept Jesus but I noticed I was not making any progress at all so I sought the advice of a brother. At that time the sister had just lost her job, she could barely feed herself talk less of buy a bus fare to look for jobs. Anyway the brother advised me to be the Jesus I was preaching to her. Immediately I made some arrangements to get her some food stuff and I began to assist her in her job search. Guess what, the next time I invited her to church she turned up and I think that was her first time of setting foot in a church. Evangelism is not only about saving the soul but saving the body i.e. taking interest in what the fellow is going through and offering support. Another part of evangelism God is keen on is follow-up. One of the reasons why people are not encouraged to come to church anymore is because the church does not show genuine interest or care for them. Many have been attending service for weeks, months or even years and no one from church has bothered to contact them to check on them talk less of the pastor setting time out to visit them at home and pray with them. Jesus conducted follow up with his disciples. It was during one of the follow-up visits he healed the mother-in-law of Peter, Matthew 8:14-15. Several years ago a young lady gathered a group of street kids to teach them God’s word. Among these kids was Robert Morrison. He would attend church today and not show up for a while, only to show up out of the blue again. What always brought young Robert back to the class room was the follow-up this young lady was doing. Today Robert Morrison is known as the great missionary to China who translated the bible into the Chinese language and opened the Kingdom of Heaven to countless millions who live there. The follow-up conducted on the unpromising, unstable Robert gave birth to a great missionary.

 

ACTION POINT: Contact brothers and sisters you did not see in church last Sunday and check if all is well.