The Greek verb energein

The Energizer Deity

    We are all familiar with the Energizer Bunny commercials. “They just keep going, and going, and going...”

    The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

    The verb “works” (vs 13) is energein, from which we get our word “energy.” The verb is used 20 times in the New Testament and Paul uses it 18 out of those 20 times. Paul was excited and glad that God worked in him.

    “He who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:8). The word means to work “mightily” or to work “effectively.” 

    Back in Philippians 2:13, the word is a participle (present, active), a verbal noun “who works.” Thus, it becomes another designation for God - the “Great Energizer” (Hawthorne, 100).

    He's still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be. He's still working on me.There really ought to be a sign upon my heart, “Don’t judge me yet, there’s an unfinished part.” How loving and patient He must be - ‘cause He’s still working on me. (Joel Hemphill)

    God wants to change our hearts. He desires to change our wills. He longs to change our behavior. When we submit to Him, He starts working on us so that we will (want) and that we will work (do) His pleasure.

    As long as we are moving in the right direction, God will work on us. He is the Great Energizer, the Energizer Deity. He will not give up on us as long as we continue to move toward Him.

    Cornelius was a good man. But he was not a Christian. God worked on his heart through the preaching of Peter. When Peter finished preaching, Cornelius yielded his will to God as his heart became submissive. Then he obeyed the Gospel (Acts 10:48).

    Lydia is another example. Lydia was a worshiper of God (Acts 16:14) but she was not a Christian. When Paul came to the riverside on that Sabbath day, he preached to her and her girl friends about Jesus. She was listening (vs 14). From that listening, God worked in her heart. The text says (following her “listening”) - “the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” She submitted her will to the Lord and He opened her heart. Then, she submitted in obedience to baptism (vs 15).

    Don’t get discouraged when you are not as godly as you know you should be. Keep studying, keep praying, keep disciplining. He’s still working on you. Don’t get exasperated when other Christians are not as godly as they know they ought to be. They are still studying, still praying, still disciplining. He’s still working on them.

    He’ll bring it all together, one day. He’s the Great Energizer.

--Paul Holland