ARE YOU A LABORER? (What every Christian must know)
By Pastor Daniel
Preached Sunday May 17th 2015
Let me begin today by saying Jesus was a laborer
Laboring is not just a means by which we receive wages as a compensation for our labor
But laboring is also a powerful connector to purpose.
When you do not labor - when you're not engaged in the process of work there is an element of purpose that can never be realized.
In fact I dare say that work and purpose go hand in hand.
In the natural the man that does not work never feels truly fulfilled
Most men experience a measure of depression when they encounter a loss of employment or work - not only because it provides for your lively hood - but because we were created to find fulfillment in work.
God himself after creating the moon and the stars stands back and says to himself - good Job!
When he created The trees and the flowers - he said to himself Good Job!
And when when he created Man - he said very good Job!
We are divinely designed to find fulfillment in a work well done.
A great marriage requires hard work
Raising moral and godly children requires work
Maintaining a home, a car, a successful business requires hard work. With the absence of work there is the absence of fulfillment
The industrious hands are praised in scripture while the lazy hands are frowned upon and warned against. In fact the bible says the lazy are robbed.
Like everything else the devil comes to pervert work.
Work can either be viewed as a curse or as a blessing -
It is usually viewed as a curse when a man is enslaved and there is no reward for his labor.
It is viewed as a blessing when one receives wages or recommence and reward for such laboring.
Jesus knew that in order to establish his kingdom it was going to require people coming together each one doing his or her own labor or his or her own part of the work.
Many of Jesus' parables centered around laboring He spoke about the Farmer who sows the seed, he spoke about those that plow the ground, he spoke about workers, those who went out at the 9th hour of the day, the 3rd the 6th and the 11th hour of the day.
Everytime Jesus speaks about laborers and laboring he usually spoke about wages connected to the laboring.
The Christian who is not laboring will often times be wavering
QUESTION:
Could it be that The God of ALL the universe has something for you to do? Could it be that in Gods divine plan he included you,
Inspite of all that is wrong with you and all that still needs to get right - In spite of what you know or do not know at the moment...
COULD IT BE HE HAS A JOB FOR YOU TO DO?
Jesus said If you want to know what the kingdom of Heaven is like -He said It's Like this...
It is like a land owner who came at different hours of the day looking for those who would be willing to work for him!
And so he hired them and said I will pay you for the work you do.
I remember when I was a teenager and landed my first Job...I just wanted someone to employ me. I could not be still I looked and looked and looked. I bought the news paper and scanned all of the help wanted ads - I called and made appointments I applied at factories, restaurants, department stores...
I was young and hungry.. I could not stand the idea of not working finally I landed my first Job it was at A&P supermarkets they hired me as a bagger. Boy I can't tell you as a young teenager how happy I was. I felt legitimized as a productive member of society. I felt authenticated that's the only way I can describe it. I wanted to be the best bagger in the whole company
Whatever you find your hands to do it. - Ecclesiastics 9:10
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it ...with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
If you have a consistent desire to do something for God, that consistent desire is Proof that God has appointed and anointed you to do it.
Let's turn to 1 Corinthians 3:8-10 (Amp)
8 He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor.
9 For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s [b]garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building.
10 According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it..."
- It is an honor and privilege to do anything in the Lords House as small as it may be, it must be viewed with the greatest of honor -
"KING David said I rather be a door keeper in the house of the Lord than to dwell in the houses of the wicked" - Psalms 84:10
Ephesians 4:7-12 - Paul speaks through the Holy Spirit
7 Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift.
8 Therefore it is said, When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive [He led a train of [a]vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men.
9 [But He ascended?] Now what can this, He ascended, mean but that He had previously descended from [the heights of] heaven into [the depths], the lower parts of the earth?
10 He Who descended is the [very] same as He Who also has ascended high above all the heavens, that He [His presence] might fill all things (the whole universe, from the lowest to the highest).
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),
PERFECTED IN MINISTRY -
Jesus sent out his disciples and he said don't take anything with you not a bag to carry anything - not a cloak not money, no sandals, NOTHING
WHY? because they were going to experience God unlike ever BEOFRE - they left Jesus as regular men and returned having experienced God is a brand new way, they saw Demons come out - people healed - needs provide for.
This is the BIG IDEA - if I am sent then he will anoint me to do it- and he will show up while I'm doing it, simply because my total dependence is on the one who sent me and the one who said he will be with me. When the seventy were sent out they did not have all their house in order and undoubtedly were not free of sin. Yet they experienced miracles because they understood that the one who sent them was going to show up because they acted on simple obedience and went. This simple act opened the door for the greatest miracles of their lives.
WHEN WE FAIL TO LABOR GOD WILL MAKE IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR US!
In Matthew 9:38 (amp) Jesus said - "Pray to the Lord of the harvest to FORCE and THRUST Laboroers into the harvest"
Jesus said pray to the father that God will FORCE and THRUST OUT laborers.
The bible says God will frustrate your plans if their not his plans for your life...
As believers we must ask ourselves are we counted among those that labor in his Field
The bible says that a mans labor will be examined by The Lord
And at the end of our exam he will say to many WELL DONE,
a. Matthew 25:29, 30 - "'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 - 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
- Pastor Daniel Cruz
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Pastor Cruz email:
Faithworldchicago@gmail.com
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