THE JOY OF PLEASING THE LORD (EPH. 2:12-18)
SUMMARY: PHIL.2: 12 and 13: THE COMMAND , THE PROMISE AND THE REASON
A. The command :We’re told to obey, “ …to work out our salvation.”
B. The Promise :God will make us both to want to obey and to make us able to obey.
C. The Reason : “ for His good pleasure.” ...It pleases God to work on us.
I. THE COMMAND…”to work out our salvation”(v.12)
DEFINITIONS:
 “workout” –(katergazesthe)…the complete the effort and the work begun; to accomplished it perfectly ; to bring to completion.
Once God has saved , he is get busy working on it until it is completed and finished.
 “fear and trembling”… the biblical fear of God. It is the feeling of awe, respect, and wonder as we stand before a being who is
totally beyond our control, best summed up by the word “humility”
 “murmuring and arguing”the opposite of “fear and trembling
a) “murmuring” –(goggusmon) …alow-toned, discontented muttering, a negative, muted comments, complaining, and
whining.grumbling leads to disputing.
b) “arguing” –(dialogismon)..Disputing--vocal, ill-natured argumentation, verbal expressions of disagreement that stir up
suspicions and distrust, doubt, and other disturbing feelings in others.
II. THE PROMISE… “ God will make us both to will to obey and to make us able to obey.”(v.13)GOD’S WORKING ON US:
ACTIVATES, ILLUMINATES, MOTIVATES
1) ACTIVATES…( nagbibigay- buhay, nagpapasigla)(v.13)
… “ activates” (energon)…enables ,arouses, stirs, and energizes the heart of the believer to do God’s will.
NOTE:
…* Wonderful truth: It God does not leave us alone to work out our salvation. He works within us: moves , stirs , energizes and
arouses us to get up and get to it.He is working on us forever to complete our salvation .
…* TragicTruth : We often ignore, neglect, refuse and even reject the prompting of the Holy Spirit .being complacent and
lethargic , more to the things , possession, and activities of this world instead of God and His stirring.(John 5:21/ Heb.3:15/1
Thess.5:19=22/Phil 1:6)
2) ILLUMINATES (Purifies, naglilinis, nagpapapusyaw, nagpapakinang)(v.15)
Genesis 12 … God tells Abraham,“ In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.Matthew 5 …Jesus describes us at the salt of
the earth and the light of the world.
NOTE: God has always intended his chosen people to be a blessing to the rest of the world. We live in a sad world – a world hoping for
something better.
 Our very lives are sermons to this world, showing them how it could be( being pure, clean , faultless, walking under the eyes and
scrutiny of God). We are, at our best, refreshingly different.
 We are to reflect the purity and holiness of God. Right now, we don’t shine perfectly, but God is working through us. And we
should rejoice.
3) ENCOURAGES(motivates, nagpapasigla , nagpapainit )(VV.16-18)
NOTE: Paul is so completely sold out to Jesus that anytime he sees spiritual growth he rejoices, for the glory of Christ is being
advanced.
….Arrogant (boasting)or Just being proud ….like Paul is taking credit for the spiritual growth of the Philippians?
….Paul’s boasting comes from the Lord, and from the Lord alone.(Gal.6:14/1 Cor.1:31) ….GOD encourages us by His Spirit and
through other believers growth in the faith. He wants us to be intimately connected with each other so that we can see the hand
of God moving through each other, and so that we can rejoice and praise and worship at such an awesome event.
III. THE REASON …BECAUSE IT PLEASES THE LORD …..” fot His pleasure.” (V.13)
> God is working in us in order to accomplish his good pleasure
> God’s good pleasure is the motivation for his willing us to work.
NOTE: God is a hedonist… making pleasure (in the sense of the satisfaction of desires) in the highest good and proper aim of human
life..
> He is active and moving in the world because it brings him joy.
> Everything that God is doing in each one of US – all the activating, illuminating, and encouraging – all of it is gratifying to God.
REFLECTION:
1) When we go before the Father in prayer, we must be aware of his delight in us..
2) When we witness for Him , we must rejoice because God is please with us.
3)When the church is in unity and in harmony , we must thank the Lord as we share in His delight
* We must always be aware of the things that God is doing in our life, they are all for his good pleasure.
* We must be on the lookout for all the ways God is at work in other Christians and we must rejoice and be glad and have fun with God.
CONCLUSION:
> God is activatingus to obedience …Illuminating the nations through us, ...Encouragingthe believers by us, … Gratifying himself in us.
Phil. 1:6, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”
REF: RUSSELL SMITH / PREACHERS’ OUTLINE
PTR: J.B. CAGUIMBAL (EXPERIENCE / INSIGHTS)