Father, before I asked, you answered what I was thinking about in my random scripture reading, and I thank you for that.
(Ps. 138:2b-3 & 7-8) “—Praise Your name for Your loving-kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your words above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You receive me; you will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies (the Devil), and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.”
Perfect (str. 1584) Means: to end, finish accomplish, perfect, to come to an end, cease, to perform, fulfill.
(Phil. 1:6) —“Being confident of this very thing, that He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; —.”
Good (str. 18) (kalos) Means: good in a physical and moral sense, and which produces benefits. The word is used of persons, things, acts, conditions, etc. A synonym (agathos) means aesthetic sense, suggesting attractiveness, excellence.
(John 6:29) “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘this is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
(1 Thess. 1:3-4) —“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.”
Hope (str. 1680) means: confident expectation based on solid certainty, resting on Gods promises, especially regarding His return. It is an extension of faith, believing is though it has already happened. Faith is the present possession of grace; hope is confidence in grace’s future accomplishment.
(James 2:22) “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?”
Working together (str. 4903) means: to cooperate, help, collaborate, co labor. There is a practical harmony or synergism between vertical faith in God and horizontal works to the needy. Faith is both spiritual and practical.
(Phil. 2:12b-14) “—Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing.”
Salvation (str. 4991) means: deliverance, preservation, soundness, prosperity, happiness, rescue, general well-being. The word is used in a material, temporal and spiritual sense.
Fear (str. 5401) means: fear of terror and the fear of reverence toward God.
(Romans 6:17b) “—Though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered (entrusted).”
Obeyed (str. 5219) means: to hear as a subordinate, listen attentively, obey as a subject, answer and respond, submit without reservation. Used in reference to servants who were attentive to requests made of them. It is to hear, respond, and obey.
(1 Pet. 5:6-7) “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Humble (str.5013) means: to make low. Metaphorically, it means to debase, lower oneself, devoid of all arrogance and self-exaltation, and a person willingly submitted to God and His will.
Exalt (str. 5312) means: to lift or rise up; metaphorically uplifting or exalting. Scripture warns us that exalting ourselves will result in a disgraceful fall, but humbling ourselves leads to exaltation in this and the next world.
Care (str. 3308) means: it denotes distractions, anxieties, burdens, and worries. And to be anxious beforehand about daily life. Such as worry is unnecessary, because the Father’s love provides for both our daily needs and our special needs.
(1 Pet. 5: 8-10) “Be sober (self –controlled); be vigilant (watchful); because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
Resist: Indicates an assertive stance against the Adversary’s operations. Because of the Devil’s aggressive hostility, Christians must be spiritually alert, not only to withstand his attacks, with the full armor of God, but also in prayer and spiritual warfare opposing him.
Steadfast: faithful; loyal; constant; Fixed; unwavering; steady.
Eternal glory: is contrasted with the comparatively brief period which Christians suffer. Trials are temporary in the light of eternity.
Perfect: (1) Having all the elements or qualities requisite to its nature or kind; complete. (2) Without defect; flawless. (3) Accurately corresponding to a type or original; exact: a perfect replica. (4) To bring to perfection; complete. (5) To make thoroughly skilled or accomplished; to perfect oneself.
Establish: to make secure, stable, or permanent. To install; causing to be recognized and accepted; clear from doubt; demonstrate; to prove.
Settle: To free of agitation or disturbance; quiet; to settle one’s nerves.
(Phil. 2:5-11) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. 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. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Form of God: His divine essence which is unchangeable.
Equal with God: refers to Christ’s existence shared in the glories and prerogatives of deity, but not regarding the circumstances of His existence as man. He willingly relinquished His glory when He came to Earth, yet retaining deity.
Robbery to be equal with God: or something to be held onto to be equal.
Made Himself of no reputation: emptied Himself of His privileges. It also translates void: (str. 2758) meaning to neutralize, empty, nullify, render void, divest totally, and reduce to nothing.
Bond-servant: (str. 1401) denotes one in voluntary bondage to or subject to another, willingly offers themselves in obedience, loyalty and devotion in subordination to his master.
Likeness of men: means His humanity was genuine, yet His being was still divine.
(Rev. 2:26-28) “And he who overcomes and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.”