PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 – Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but 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 work for his good pleasure.”

THEME OF THE DAY:  IS GOD AT WORK IN OUR LIVES?  Okay, I admit it’s not the brightest of questions to title today’s nugget.  Of course God is at work in our lives.  Today’s scripture affirms this truth, but throughout all the scripture, God is at work.  He is not a passive God, a detached God from His creature, or a “clockmaker” God who just created everything and simply let it go.  God is at work, all the time, in His creation as well as in His children.  But the question to really ask is, “How do we recognize a genuine work of God in our lives as Christians and in our churches?”

The importance in asking this question cannot be overstated.  In the Apostle John’s first letter, he tells us to be discerning to know what spirit is truly at work – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already (1 John 4:1-3).  To help us discern the true from the false, here are things to look for . . .

First, there is a new spiritual awareness that became so real to us, more real than our very existence; an overwhelming sense of God’s holiness, a new sense of our sinfulness, His fear gripping the soul, and above all, the centrality of the Lord Jesus Christ in His holy love, majestic beauty, abounding mercy, and amazing grace. As these occur, unhindered confession of sin follows along with genuine and thorough repentance, leading to a humbling of the soul, and sincere worship bathed in thanksgiving and praise.

Some other things also identify God’s spiritual work in our lives; a deepening hunger to know Him through His Word and prayer (Psalm 42:1-2); an intensified desire to be holy like Him (Philippians 3:10); a growing distaste for the things and pleasures of this world (1 John 2:15-17); a radical transformation from being self-centered and proud to being self-denying and humble (Philippians 2:1-10); and a heavy burden for unbelievers to know Christ driving us to agonizing and extended seasons of prayer for their salvation (Romans 9:1-3).

So, is God at work in our lives?  In our churches? Of course, but let’s be wise and discerning to recognize a truth work by how He defines it in His Word.  Remember, the devil counterfeits what God does.  After all, he is called an “angel of light” for a reason – his deceptive power (2 Corinthians 11:14).

PRAYER: “Father, help me to be ‘Biblically discerning’ when it comes to evaluating Your work in my life.”

QUOTE: “Look for the biblical evidence of God’s work in us not just experience, feelings, or what we think.”

In the affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim