God has created you to serve him in a way that is perfectly designed for you.

Let's start with the elephant in the room- Php 2-12 ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,- . Salvation in this passage is not referring to the forgiveness of sins. This passage is not saying that we can earn our forgiveness by doing something. The bible clearly teaches that we are forgiven by grace alone through faith alone -Eph. 2-1-10- Rom. 6-23- Gal.2-16-. Since salvation in this passage can not mean the forgiveness of sins, it must mean something else. Salvation in this passage refers to the christian's process of becoming more like Jesus. We call this process Sanctification. From our text today I believe that we can define sanctification as the Spirit empowered obedience to God's word that leads to growing christlikeness.

What we value determines how we live. Our lives tell a story of what we value. As Christians we are called to have the mind of Christ. We are called to value the same things Jesus values. A Christlike mind reveals it self in a Spirit empowered commitment to a Christlike life.

As christians we are called to live in this world as citizens of heaven. This is not something we can do on our own. We can only do this by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit inside of us, having trusted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are called and empowered by God to live as citizens worthy of the Gospel in your community- 1- Committed to the Gospel- 2- Contending for the Gospel- 3- Courageous in the Defense of the Gospel.

While in prison for preaching Jesus-Paul contemplates his own life and death determining that as long as he remains in the flesh he will live for Jesus, honoring and glorifying Jesus by helping others to grow spiritually as the follow Christ. -This passage teaches us that the purpose of the Christian life is to honor Jesus by helping others grow spiritually as they follow him. God is glorified when you help others follow Jesus.

It's strange to rejoice in suffering, yet the Bible commands us to do so. In this message we explore the key to rejoicing in affliction