“Fear and Trembling”

Pastor David Moore

Old Testament reading: Job 26:7-14 (NIV) 

He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in His clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading His clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at His rebuke. By His power He  churned up the sea; by His wisdom He cut Rahab to pieces. By His breath the skies became fair; His hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper we hear of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power?”  

Justification is something that happens once. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy over time.  I’m in the process of learning.  

Justification Sanctification  

– Legal standing – Internal condition  

– Once for all time – Continuous throughout life  

– Entirely God’s work – We cooperate  

– Perfect in this life – Not perfect in this life  

– The same in all Christians – Greater in some than others  

Theme: Working out your salvation.  

New Testament reading: Philippians 2:12-18 (NIV)  

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.  

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor  for nothing.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.  

We will never get to the point where we can put the basics of Christian living behind us and just live gloriously free. There will never come a point where we can stop things about basic living for God and just go for it. ~D. Moore  

I’ll never be perfect, but I can be better. Today I’m focusing on improvement, not perfection.  

What is life with Jesus supposed to look like? It will look like a partnership between us and God. ~D.  Moore  

Luke 10:17-27 The 72 returned with joy. They said, ”Lord, even the demons obey us when we speak in your name.” Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to…overcome all the power of the enemy.”

Obedience to Jesus and His word becomes a lifestyle. Your obedience to Jesus, the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit begins in our lives into a more aligned lifestyle with Christ. ~D. Moore  

Maturing in faith means more and more being able to hear what God is saying and then obeying. ~D.  Moore  

A Christian is a disciple of Jesus who obeys.  And on occasions we fail at obedience, and we repent. ~D.  Moore.  

A follower of Jesus (his/her) deeds matches their confession of Jesus is Lord.  ~D. Moore  

Paul has an active sense of our obedience, which makes complete sense, as that was his experience with God. ~D. Moore  

Faith is not belief. Belief is passive. Faith is active. ~Edith Hamilton  

Active obedience helps take our focus off ourselves and refocuses on God, which is where our focus should have been in the first place.
~D. Moore  

How are we supposed to work out our salvation? With fear and trembling. A reverent awe of God.  The sole realization of our need to deal with Him–that God is holy, and I am not. The word trembling refers to a soul–gripping fear that leaves someone quaking. The phrase connects the idea of the consequences of failing to obey. ~D. Moore  

God is the loving force that is shaping us, guiding us, empowering us, encouraging us, and molding us through His Word and His Spirit.  It is happening in your life and the lives of the followers of Jesus around you. ~D. Moore  

Remember that God is shaping you for a job He has coming up for you.  He is shaping you to fit with Him in eternity.

God bless you this week as you work out your salvation with God of the Universe.