Philippians 2:12 says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.  Paul commended the Christians at Philippi for always being obedient, not to him, but to God.  Paul said they had done this when he was with them, but they did it even more so since he had been gone.  We do not obey men but God, and we should do so whether the preacher is present or not.  I have heard people say or do something wrong when a preacher is present and apologize to him, but God is there all the time and He is the One Who should be apologized to.  Then, Paul said that they were to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.  This did not mean that they could do anything to save themselves, other than accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord,  Until we accept the salvation of Christ personally, we should fear and tremble at our standing with God.  Verse thirteen states, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Paul clarifies that it is God Who works to bring about their salvation and their calling.  It is because of the good pleasure of God that salvation is even possible, and it is also at His good pleasure that we are called to serve Him.  God does not need us to do His work, but He allows us to be a part of it.  Verse fourteen declares, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  Murmurings and disputings are nothing new in the church.  Paul warned against them to the Christians at Philippi, and the warning still applies today.  Too often, church members, those who are supposed to be Christ's representatives in the world today, get mad at another member and leave the church.  If we are to be effective in presenting the gospel to the world, then we must learn to at least get along with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Verse fifteen adds, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Paul said that they were to do this so that they could be blameless and harmless sons of God without rebuke.  He also acknowledged that they were to do this in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.  We may see the nation today as crooked and perverse, but we cannot be like those who do not know Christ.  We cannot lash out with hatred and anger.  We are called to be a shining light in the world, and we cannot do this if we act the same as the rest of the world.  Verse sixteen continues, Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  Paul said that they, like him, were to hold forth to the word of life, the gospel, so that they could rejoice together in the day of Christ, the judgment day to come.  If we are to rejoice in that day, we likewise must hold forth to the gospel, living by faith in Christ.  In verse seventeen Paul declares, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.  Paul said that if he were to die so that others might come to know Christ and live as faithful Christians that he would rejoice with them.  Do we have that same type of faith today, or do we think that we should be happy no matter what is happening to other Christians and even the lost people of the world?  Verse eighteen adds, For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.  Paul said that the followers of Christ at Philippi were the same way.  We today need to rejoice in God, even if our faith leads us to suffering at the hands of those who do not know God.