PRESENTER'S NOTES

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;

Fear = 5401 phobos fob'-os from a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:--be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.

Trembling = 5156 tromos trom'-os from 5141; a "trembling", i.e. quaking with fear:--+ tremble(-ing). see GREEK for 5141

So, let’s rephrase that scripture, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with terror, quaking with fear;”

SCARY movies…

Does this make sense to you?

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE WITH “FEAR AND TREMBLING”…

Psalm 2: 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.

Fear = 3374 yir'ah yir-aw' feminine of 3373; fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence:--X dreadful, X exceedingly, fear(-fulness). see HEBREW for 03373

Trembling = 7461 ra`ad rah'-ad or (feminine) radah {reh-aw-daw'}; from 7460; a shudder:--trembling. see HEBREW for 07460

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

In Psalm 2, we find rejoicing associated with fear and trembling. In the next verse we read, Matthew 28:5, we will find great joy associated with fear.

Matthew 28:5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciple's word.

What we find in Psalm 2 and Matthew 28, by the very nature of the phrases, leads us not to a vision of terror and quaking fear, the literal meaning of the words, “fear and trembling”, but to reverence and extreme joy, uncontainable joy.

Let’s turn to 1 John 4 and find out about a quality that DOES NOT EXIST where perfect love is present.
1 John 4: 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.

The monster about to snatch us into his clutches…
The tidal wave bearing down upon us…
The jet engines failed as we plummet toward earth…

And..

Having already rejected God, knowing the destiny of the unsaved…

GO BACK TO

Philippians 2 and read the context…

Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

OR

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with deep reverence and uncontainable joy; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.