"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).
A man can be a great stickler for what he calls "good works." Yes, he can work the very skin off his bones in order to be good, in order to be righteous, in order to move God.
But who is doing the work? Self does the work in order to be righteous, in order to have that treasure of merit that will give an increase of grace in this world and an increase of glory in heaven. Has the mind, has the heart been yielded to God? Are the affections fixed upon Him? Is the surrender of all to Him? No. And therefore it is still self in all.
Who then is to do the work in order that it may be good works always? Let us read again: "If Christ is dwelling in our hearts, He will work in us 'both to will and to do for His good pleasure.' We shall work as He worked; we shall manifest the same spirit. And thus, loving Him and abiding in Him, we shall 'grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ' (Eph. 4:15)."
Now, then, that is what the Lord wants, that is what the mind of Christ is. I cannot have the mind of Christ separate from Him, without having Him personally. But the personal presence of Jesus Christ is just what He wants to give us by the Holy Spirit in the outpouring of the latter rain just now. [1]
"Be keener than ever to work out the salvation that God has given you with a proper sense of awe and responsibility. For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose" (Phil. 2:12,13, Phillips).
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