Dealing with Doubts

Phil. 2:12

Phil. 2:12(Amp) – Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out – cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete – your own salvation with fear reverence and awe and trembling [self-distrust, that is, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation; timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ.]

Two Things to be Overcome/Worked Out with Obedience –

1) Fear (phobos) to be affrighted, to flee; it can also mean terror as well as astonishment and amazement.

2) Trembling (tromou) gen. sing. Form – to tremble or quake; to tremble from fear OR from agitation of mind! Due to being under solemn responsibility.

Overcoming these two by Working Out our Salvation –

1) Work Out – (katepgadesthe) – to work out; to effect, produce; to bring out as a result

2) Paul experienced both fear and trembling in Corinth (I Cor. 2:3) when he needed to confront them without appearing better than them. This threw him into dread and trembling:

a. (Amp) And I (passed into a state of) weakness and was in fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.

b. Sometimes we experience this physical and mental condition because we don’t want to make a mistake in what God has sent us to do and say.

c. After the confrontation of correction was in the past, Paul encourages the Corinthians with these words in II Cor. 7:15 – with fear [reverence] and trembling [anxiety] to meet all requirements you accepted and welcomed (Titus) who would be their spiritual instructor.

d. In verse 13 we understand that Titus also experienced anxiety of mind as to whether they would accept him or not. Their acceptance soothed his troubled thoughts and refreshed his spirit.

3) Salvation – our position of preservation and deliverance from all that hinders or attacks us by the power of Christ Jesus’ atoning work.

Overcoming Causes us to Produce –

1) Fruits of Righteousness -

a. II Cor. 4:15-17 – For all things are for your sakes, that grace having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving [gratitude] to abound to the glory of God. Therefore, we do not lose heart [become discouraged]. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

o V. 8 describes those ‘light afflictions’ as being hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

b. Ex. 5:22-23 – Moses asked the Lord ‘why did you send me’ to deliver Israel since he was being resisted by Pharoah and questioned by the ones he was to deliver!

o Moses, no doubt, remembered trying to be the deliverer 40-years earlier and failed. He didn’t want a repeat.

o We should not view our circumstances and the resistance we encounter as something to redirect what God has spoken to us because of failure.

o Ex. 6:1 – God answers Moses: Now you will see what I will do with a strong hand…v.2 I am the Lord.

2) Fruit is Evidence of our Growing from Faith to Faith

a. Ro. 1:17 – For therein [in the Gospel of Christ] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just [faultless] shall live by faith.

b. Lk. 17:5-6 – Disciples request: “increase our faith” – Jesus says a mustard seed size of faith will move mountains/pluck up sycamore trees – i.e., faith grows the more it’s used!

c. Ro. 10:17 – faith comes by hearing…the word of God!

d. Ro. 12:6 – we use the gifts God has given us according to the grace given to us…according to the proportion of faith –

o as our Faith grows, our works of righteousness grow by using the gifts we have.

3) Progress starts Small grows Large –

a. Zec. 4:10a – Despise not small beginnings – (or the day of small things – KJ)

o “Down on your knees you will grow taller than trees.”

o There will be stages, or seasons of challenge, along the way to growth.

b. Humility required – to grow in love, mercy, and correct decisions

o Mic. 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

c. Faith works through love – Gal. 5:6

d. Seek God – Receive all things that are needed.

o Luke 12 31-34 – Seek kingdom, all…shall be added to you. Do not fear…Father’s good please to give you…Sell…and give…a treasure in the heavens un-stealable/corruptible…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

In times of doubt, examine yourselves to see if you are walking in faith or doubt. If in doubt, then align yourself with God’s truth and speak to yourself so you hear the Word of God to grow your faith.

II Cor. 13:5 – Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test [prove] yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed you are disqualified?