"Fear God, Love God, Serve God": "Work It!"

"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."

(Philippians 2:12)

We are in the war of our lives, and we fight, even as the Angels battle for us in the heavenlies! What? You don't know there's a devil until you are saved, sanctified, bought with a price, baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, filled with the Holy Ghost, walkin' and talkin' the Word, wielding the sword of the Spirit, praying against darkness and all evil, claiming the blood of Jesus, and shakin' the foundations of Hell! That's when you KNOW there's a devil ... so, what do you do? You "Work It!"

How do you "work out your own soul's salvation?" Study the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Daddy, mama, grandma, and even the Preacher can't save us. Huh? We must have the preached Word of God, but then, it's up to us; he can't walk that long aisle to the altar for us; he can't go under the baptismal waters in Jesus' name for us; he can't receive the Holy Ghost and speak in tongues for us; he can't repent for us ... WE have to "work it out" for ourselves. WE have to approach the Almighty God alone; we stand alone before Him at judgment and we stand alone before Him in salvation. Then, when we've worked it out, Jesus Christ will never leave us nor forsake us; the angels protect us, the Word, the blood, and the Name go before us ... but, we're in a battle to the end. "End of what?" you ask. The day when time shall be no more ...

While we're "workin' it," there will be trials, tests, deserts, fire, cold, brooks ... wells ... wars, angels, incense, heavenly choirs, Hallelujah anyhow's ... grace ... attacks, mountain peaks, vallies, caves, visions, dreams ... and Power! POWER! Through it all, when we're filled with the Holy Ghost, we have the power to face, overcome, triumph over, and "work out" all things, and we emerge saying, "It Is Well." The only times we are "alone" is before salvation and at judgment, for we all come to the judgment seat of Christ, but if we are IN Christ Jesus, and we remain faithful until the trumpet blows, we will hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant." But, until then, it's WORK; we fight side by side with the angels of God; it's called Spiritual Warfare and it is WORK!

So, we fight on, because:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry

it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 1:6)

Christian Martyrs

This "faith thing" is no game; ask the Christian martyrs who paved our road with blood and tears. John 15:20 says, "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." Jesus Christ has risen, and lives on, but the battle in earth continues, because WE are His hands and feet; WE are the "Go Ye" today; WE are in the "work it" mode until the sound of the trumpet. The "work it" is the "with fear and trembling" part. Huh? We fear the Lord, or rather, we respect and revere Him; we are but "dust" and we must always always remember that. Sin and a mighty Holy God will never mesh; we tremble at His omnipotence; we bow before Him in humble recognition of His power and majesty; we tremble at the lightning and thunder, because we know it's all in the power of His hands. "All of what?" you ask. All that we have yet to face ... the times and the seasons ... the preparation for the fulfillment of all things ... and WE are in the middle of it ... "working it out" ...

"We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless;

when we are persecuted, we endure it;"

(I Corinthians 4:12)

While we're "workin' it," we must not forget to stop and smell the roses. What? The presence of the Lord, the goodness of Him, His voice of direction, His whispers in the moonlight, His touch of comfort, the thrill of His Spirit, His blessings, miracles, and glory ... when the battle is the fiercest, He carries us; when our strength is depleted, there are feathers of warriors left in their wake; we are healed, uplifted and delivered day by day; and the power of His love overwhelms our feeble mortality, and He intercedes for "us" in prayer. The "work" is sweet in the face of the Master ...

Keep the Faith; let your swords be polished and sharp; watch while you lap from your hand; never forget your armor; let your knees stand you in glory; may your prayers rebuke and defeat devils and evil; let the oil of anointing and the Spirit of God be your power; and "Work It!"