To Will and to Work for His Good Pleasure

Philippians 2:12-18
Key Verse 13: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

Look at verses 12-13.

1. What do you think it means to “work out” your salvation? What do you think it means to work out your salvation with “fear and trembling”? (Gen 19:17, Mt 24:17-18, Luke 9:62)

   1. Application: How are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling?

2. Who is driving our works? What could be an example of a “work” for his good pleasure? What does it mean to “will” for his good pleasure? How can verse 13 help us to discern which of our works and our wills are from God?

   1. Application: How is God working in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure?

Verses 14-16.

3. What behaviors will distinguish us from the crooked and twisted generation?(14) How much different will we be from the world if we do all things without grumbling or disputing?(15b) Why is it important for us to be visibly set apart and easily identifiable, especially when it comes to evangelism and preaching the gospel?

4. What does it mean to “hold fast to the word of life”? How can holding fast to the word of life help us to not grumble or dispute with one another while we work out our salvation?

Verses 17-18.

5. How is Paul describing himself? What do you think he is trying to communicate to the Philippians when he says that he is being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of their faith? Why do you think he was able to rejoice, even though he is about to be poured out like a drink offering? What can we learn from this?

Θέλω / Thelō (To Will)
To will, have in mind, intend
1. to be resolved or determined, to purpose
2. to desire, to wish
3. to love, to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
4. to take delight in, have pleasure

Isaiah 55:7
7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Gen 19:17 (When Lot is fleeing the Destruction of Sodom and Ghomorra)
17 And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”

Matthew 24:17-18
17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.

Luke 9:62
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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