Philippians 2:12 -13 NKJV
Therefore, my beloved, as you 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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Many times we make the mistake of seeing ourselves as workers apart from God. We work to please Him, we labour to please other people, we strive to please ourselves, and even go an extra mile to work to gain God's acceptance. To add fuel to the fire, we even quote scriptures out of context to back up our actions, one of them being Philippians 2:12.

Many times, we also make the mistake of seeing God as one who works apart from us. One who does His own things, in His own way, in His own time without involving us. We also quote scriptures that talk about the 'sovereignty' of God. 

The truth is that, from the time God created man and delegated his authority to man concerning the earth (Genesis 1:26-31), God no longer does anything in the earth without the involvement of man. Selah... Rather, He has made us co-workers with Him in the earth.  

That is why in Philippians 2:12, He says “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”  to mean that we ought to work our salvation outwardly knowing that He has first worked it inwardly in us; “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13 NKJV

You have the power to do anything in the earth, and in your life according to Jesus' salvation, but you must first acknowledge what He has already done for you and in you.