We need Jesus back in America and we need Him Now - Working out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling

The Bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by over 40 different authors from all walks of life:shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers and kings. Despite these differences in occupation and the span of years it took to write it, the Bible is an extremely cohesive and unified book.

True Forgiveness!

Have you ever tried to forgive someone and found you simply couldn't do it?

You've cried about it and

- prayed about it and

- asked God to help you.

But those old feelings of resentment just failed to go away.

Put an end to those kinds of failures in the future-

- by basing your forgiveness on faith rather than feelings.

True forgiveness doesn't have anything at all to do with how you feel.

It's an act of the will. It is based on obedience to God and on faith in Him.

That means once you've forgiven a person-

- you need to consider him permanently forgiven! When old feelings rise up within you and

Satan tries to convince you that you haven't really forgiven, resist him.

Say, "No, I've already forgiven that person by faith. I refuse to dwell on those old feelings."

Then, according to 1 John 1:9-

Believe that you receive forgiveness and cleansing from the sin of unforgiveness and from all unrighteousness associated with it including any remembrance of having been wronged!

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I may forgive, but I'll never forget!"

That's a second-rate kind of forgiveness-

- that you, as a believer, are never supposed to settle for.

You're to forgive supernaturally "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:32.

You're to forgive as God forgives.

To release that person from guilt permanently and unconditionally and to operate as if nothing bad ever happened between you.

You're to purposely forget as well as forgive.

As you do that-

- something supernatural will happen within you.

The pain once caused by that incident will disappear.

The power of God will wash away the effects of it.

And you'll be able to leave it behind you once and for all.

Don't become an emotional bookkeeper-

- keeping careful accounts of the wrongs you have suffered.

Learn to forgive and forget.

It will open a whole new world of blessing for you.

"Love...is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it pays no

attention to a suffered wrong." 1 Corinthians 13:5.

Working out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling(Phillipians 2:12)

Working Out Your Salvation

Dear One,

He had been sitting motionless at the kitchen table for about fifteen minutes. I could see his eyes darting back and forth across the numbers on the page of his math book. His pencil lay on the table next to a blank piece of paper. I walked through the room and placed my hands on his shoulders. "Sweetheart, is this a tough section of your math homework?" I asked. He didn't look up at me but nodded his head up and down. "Do you want for me to sit with you so that we can go through the section together?" His head nodded up and down again. "Taylor? Are you okay, son?" He turned his head to look up at me and I could see that his eyes were full of frustration and hopelessness. "I hate math," he said. "It's so hard for me to understand. I read the problem and then go to the back of the book to see the answer and I can't figure out how they got the answer."

I'm just like any other mother - I hate to see my kids upset - especially when it's over something that's frustrating. Reasoning and working through something that hasn't yet made sense is hard. It's difficult not to just give up and pretend that you understand but it's even tougher to hang in there until a light begins to dawn. It's those moments in time when the "why" and "how" of the "answer" can drive a person absolutely mad. And that includes a fourteen-year-old boy dealing with an elusive math problem.

"Taylor, I have an idea," I suggested. "Why don't we go back to the chapter, re-read the section, look at the examples and see if we can work it out together?" A smile began to cross his lips. "Son, math wasn't my strongest subject either but I'll work through it with you until we both understand how they got the answer." I guess my last comment hit close to home because he jumped up and put those strong fourteen-year-old arms around me in a big hug.

We sat down and began to work out the problem. There were some frustrating moments as we read the problem over and over again, trying to scrutinize and analyze each section. But things really began to click as we broke the problem down even further; number by number and symbol by symbol. It was then that the answer became clear. Taylor began to smile that smile that meant only one thing - "I get it!"

"Working through" a seemingly difficult problem can be frustrating. Whether it's a math problem, a pistachio soufflé recipe, or directions to a downtown restaurant; there are some things that just don't make sense unless you take them number by number, ingredient by ingredient or street by street. And even then there's no guarantee.

But when I think about the process of working through any of those examples, I can't help but think about the verse of scripture in Philippians that talks about working out our salvation. To be quite honest, it had always bothered me that the word "work" seemed to be a part of my salvation. Why did it bother me? Well, I know that I can't earn or keep anything that Christ has done on my behalf, which includes my salvation. Salvation is a favor, a gift and because that is true, I can't "buy" it through my efforts. How can I possibly "buy" something that has already been purchased on my behalf by Christ? I can't . . . and neither can you.

"Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Romans 4:4-5

So, what do we do with Philippians 2:12? What is the Word of God telling you and me? Do we need to pitch in where the cross left off? Is it up to you and me to not only complete the unfinished work of Jesus Christ but to maintain it as well? That would be absolutely preposterous!

Philippians 2:12b clearly says this, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." But what does that mean? Well, I believe that Paul is exhorting us to work through, to work out our salvation just like Taylor and I worked through his math problem. Piece by piece, number by number, verse by verse so that we can understand more and more about our salvation. Don't you want to know more about the depth and height of this wonderful gift that we have been given? Doesn't the "inner wo-man" in you want to rest in what Christ has already accomplished on your behalf? Then, take heart, dear one. We have the privilege of a lifetime of working out our understanding of our salvation - it's that enormous!

Let me explain a bit further about "working out". Don't worry; it doesn't include heavy weights or a leotard! Let's take these two verses from Ephesians:

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ."

When you first read those verses of scripture, you can tell that they're full of Good News. But as you work out the meaning of each word and each phrase you begin to see some tremendous truths about your salvation.

1) God is the One in charge and He does all things.

2) He is rich in mercy because He's God.

3) He has great love for you even though you were dead in sin.

4) He chose to make you alive because He's rich in mercy and love.

5) He accomplished all of these things through the cross of Jesus Christ.

Has your understanding of your salvation just broadened? Are you more confident in what He has done on your behalf in Christ? Absolutely! You were just working out your understanding of what your salvation means, what it includes, how it benefits you and why you can rest in it. And as if that isn't enough, all this "working out" is really done by the Holy Spirit in you! Pretty amazing, isn't it?

But hold on. Let's not forget that "fear and trembling" business. I've addressed this before in another teaching* but as a reminder, the phrase "fear and trembling" is defined as "the anxiety of a person who distrusts in his or her ability to completely meet all requirements." And, isn't that exactly how you'd feel if you knew that (1) it was up to you to keep your salvation in place, (2) it was up to you to make yourself understand every detail of your salvation, or (3) it was up to you to help finish or maintain the cross of Christ? I don't know about you but if I were responsible for just one of those - I would be in big trouble! I would be completely without hope and totally frustrated . . .much like Taylor with his math problem.

He was certainly frustrated when his understanding of the math problem and the answer didn't line up. Poor kid. He knew the answer; he just couldn't work out how to get there. And everyone knows that math equations and math answers have to equal. But it's funny when you think about it. No matter how much we work out our understanding of our salvation, it will never balance. Unlike math, it will never equal. How could it? It's God alone Who has done it all in Christ!

"Are you so foolish, after beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3

I love you,

Marcy

* http://www.gospelfortoday.org/mteachings/bigfuss.htm

Pastor Dean's Education

Let's not forget the blood that was shed for this great nation. Let's not forget the men and women that have died and made the sacrifice so we can have the freedom to love, to worship, and to excercise our faith.FlyHigh Ministries salutes all the soldiers who have made such a sacrifice. Let's not forget the Sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross that allowed us to have fellowship with the Father.

1John 4:9-10 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we love God, but that He love us and sent His Son as an atoning Sacrifice for our sins.

Declaring His Promises

DECLARING HIS PROMISES:

Ex 23:27 I will send My terror before you and will

throw into confusion all the people to whom you shall

come, and I will make all your foes turn from you [in

flight].

Deut 20:4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes

with you to fight for you against your enemies to give

you victory."

Deut 28:7 "The LORD will cause your enemies who rise

against you to be defeated before your face; they

shall come out against you one way and flee before you

seven ways.

Deut 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge and

dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting

arms; He drove the enemy before you and thrust them

out, saying, Destroy!

Isa 42:13-17 The LORD will march out like a mighty

man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a

shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph

over his enemies. 14 "For a long time I have kept

silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But

now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and

pant. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills and

dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into

islands and dry up the pools. 16 I will lead the blind

by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I

will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light

before them and make the rough places smooth. These

are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. 17

But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You

are our gods,' will be turned back in utter shame.

Isa 54:17 But no weapon that is formed against you

shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise

against you in judgment you shall show to be in the

wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph

over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of

the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord

is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the

vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that

which I impart to them as their justification], says

the Lord.

Isa 65:24 And it shall be that before they call I

will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will

hear. [Isa 30:19; 58:9; Matt 6:8.]

Luke 1:37,45 For with God nothing is ever impossible

and no word from God shall be without power or

impossible of fulfillment.

...And blessed (happy, to be envied) is she who

believed that there would be a fulfillment of the

things that were spoken to her from the Lord.

John 15:7-8 If you live in Me [abide vitally united

to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live

in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be

done for you. When you bear (produce) much fruit, My

Father is honored and glorified, and you show and

prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.

1 Cor 15:25-28 For [Christ] must be King and reign

until He has put all [His] enemies under His feet. [Ps

110:1.] 26 The last enemy to be subdued and

abolished is death. 27 For He [ the Father] has put

all things in subjection under His [Christ's] feet.

But when it says, All things are put in subjection

[under Him], it is evident that He [Himself] is

excepted Who does the subjecting of all things to Him.

[Ps 8:6.] 28 However, when everything is subjected to

Him, then the Son Himself will also subject Himself to

[the Father] Who put all things under Him, so that God

may be all in all [be everything to everyone, supreme,

the indwelling and controlling factor of life].

1 Cor 15:54-57 And when this perishable puts on the

imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts

on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the

Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly

vanquished forever) in and unto victory. [Isa 25:8.]

55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is

your sting? [Hos 13:14.] 56 Now sin is the sting of

death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul]

through [the abuse of] the Law. 57 But thanks be to

God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors]

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

DECLARING HIS POWER....

Rom 4:19-20 He did not weaken in faith when he

considered the [utter] impotence of his own body,

which was as good as dead because he was about a

hundred years old, or [when he considered] the

barrenness of Sarah's [deadened] womb. [Gen 17:17;

18:11.]

20 No unbelief or distrust made him waver

(doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God,

but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he

gave praise and glory to God,

Ex 15:6-10

6 "Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in

power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy

in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence

You have overthrown those who rose against You; You

sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.

8 And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were

gathered together; The floods stood upright like a

heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. 9

The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I

will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on

them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy

them.'

10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They

sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Deut 26:8 And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt

with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, and

with great (awesome) power and with signs and with

wonders;

Ps 106:9 He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried

up; so He led them through the depths as through a

pasture land. [Ex 14:21.]

Isa 40:25-26 "To whom then will you liken Me, Or to

whom shall I be equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift up

your eyes on high, And see who has created these

things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls

them all by name, By the greatness of His might And

the strength of His power; Not one is missing.

Isa 40:28-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends

of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.His

understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to

the weak, And to those who have no might He increases

strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those

who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They

shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run

and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Isa 44:24-26 [Judah Will Be Restored ]

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed

you from the womb:"I am the LORD, who makes all

things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who

spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And

drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And

makes their knowledge foolishness;

26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And

performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to

Jerusalem, 'You shall be inhabited,' To the cities of

Judah, 'You shall be built,' And I will raise up her

waste places;

Eph 1:17-22 [For I always pray to] the God of our

Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may

grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of

insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and

intimate] knowledge of Him, 18 By having the eyes of

your heart flooded with light, so that you can know

and understand the hope to which He has called you,

and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints

(His set-apart ones), 19 And [so that you can know

and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited

and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us

who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His

mighty strength,

20 Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from

the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the

heavenly [places],

21 Far above all rule and authority and power and

dominion and every name that is named [above every

title that can be conferred], not only in this age and

in this world, but also in the age and the world which

are to come. 22 And He has put all things under His

feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme

Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout

the church], [Ps 8:6.]

Col 2:12-15 And you, being dead in your trespasses

and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made

alive together with Him, having forgiven you all

trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of

requirements that was against us, which was contrary

to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having

nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed

principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle

of them, triumphing over them in it.

Rev 1:16-19 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet

as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to

me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am

alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades

and of Death.

GOD SENT US A SAVIOUR

IF OUR GREATEST NEED HAD BEEN INFORMATION

GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US AN EDUCATOR

IF OUR GREATEST NEED HAD BEEN TECHNOLOGY

GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US AN SCIENTIST

IF OUR GREATEST NEED HAD BEEN MONEY

GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US AN ECONOMIST

IF OUR GREATEST NEED HAD BEEN PLEASURE

GOD WOULD HAVE SENT US AN ENTERTAINER

BUT OUR GREATEST NEED WAS FORGIVENESS,

SO GOD SENT US A SAVIOUR(JESUS CHRIST)