LET’S GET TO WORK
TEXT: Hebrews 13:21 “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
What do the initials TGIF mean. “Thank God It’s Friday”
This can be positive or negative depending on your attitude for the week of work you have just completed.
God wants us to be positive about His work. We as believers should not have the “TGIF” attitude about the Work Of God. The Christian perspective can make work more rewarding for the if you will realize these things.
You Must Realize That...
I. Your Desire And Ability To Work Are A Part Of God Working In You.
The work of God is most important. Work has always been a part of God’s plan for your life. Our Text say’s God will start a Work in us first before we can do His Work
"Make you perfect" is the theme of Hebrews; "let us go on unto perfection, maturity’. says 6:1.
Maturity does not come through wishing or hoping; it comes as we allow Christ to work in us through the Word of God.
This parallels Phil. 2:12-16 and Eph. 3:20-21. "For it is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure." God cannot work through us until first He works in us, and He works in us through His Word
1 Thes. 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
God perfects us in every good work. God has a will for every one of us, but there is only one way it can be perfected in us.
Note two facts about this:
1. The will of God is not perfected in us by our own works and efforts.
We can try and try to work up the energy to do God’s will, but we will only fail. We may show initiative and a lot of activity, but our own human efforts and work will only fail. No matter what we do, we can never perfect ourselves. Our works and efforts will eventually cease and pass away.
2. The will of God can only be perfected in us by God Himself.
God Himself must work within us, stirring and energizing us to do what is well-pleasing in His sight. The word work has the idea of energizing. We can do God’s will only as He works within us and energizes us to do it. What determines the energy and power of God in our lives? One thing: our walk and fellowship with God. If we walk in fellowship with God—in His Word and prayer, trusting and depending upon Him—then He will stir and energize us and give us the knowledge, wisdom, ideas, and visions of what He wants done.
Are you allowing your Heavenly Shepherd to feed you and lead you? If you are, then you will grow to maturity in the Christian life, and He will be glorified.
II. You Must Realize That Work Is Your Duty
Luke 17:10 “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”
The believer is to be humble in his service for the Lord. No matter what we do for Christ, it is our duty to do it. We are unworthy of the privilege to serve Him. We are to count ourselves “unprofitable servants.”
No man can claim he has done all he should; we know this. We all come short, no matter how much we do or how great the work. There is no room for pride or arrogance or boasting. God commands perfection; therefore, He expects humility.
III. You Must Realize That God Is Your Employer.
A. The Bible stresses that our work is to be God centered
Col. 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
The workman is to obey; that is, he is to follow the instructions of the person over him. Note that he is to obey “in all things.”
The attitude of the Christian workman is that the energy and effort he puts into his job is important to the Lord. Therefore, the Lord spells out several clear and unmistakable instructions for the Christian workman.
1.The Christian workman is not to work with eyeservice, as a manpleaser; that is, he is not to work only when the boss is watching or standing around.
The Christian workman should never do the average—never do just what he has been instructed. The Christian workman should always be the best at his job, going beyond the call of duty.
2.The Christian workman is to work in singleness of heart.
3.The Christian workman is to work fearing the Lord.
4.The Christian workman is to work heartily—as to the Lord and not to men. The word “heartily” means out of the soul. The Christian workman’s labor is to arise out of his soul, from the innermost part of his being. He is not working for the men of this earth, but for the Lord.
He is working for the deepest reason possible, for a reason that arises out of his very soul: the Lord Jesus Christ has told him to work and to work diligently. The Lord Jesus is his Lord; therefore, the Christian workman does what his Lord says.
B. There are benefits to this kind of attitude of knowing that God is the boss.
1. It will overcome disappointment when others don’t acknowledge the worth of our work. Who’s The boss?
2. It will give you comfort in what we do well, knowing that God knows and cares.
3. It will encourage you to be faithful in the work for God, even when conditions are not exactly to our liking.
IV. You Must Realize What Is The Work Of God For The Believer.
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Here in these verses is our job description
Jesus commissioned His followers. He commissioned not only the eleven apostles, but all who are believers.
The Lord’s commission was threefold.
A. We are to EVANGELIZE the lost
He has commissioned us to “go ye...and make disciples of all nations.”
This is one of the crucial verses in the Bible. No verse is more important for showing us the job that God has give to the genuine believers.
Our mindset should be that of Christ, He “came to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
So He tells us to be witnesses, Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Our job is to Evangelize, to carry the message of Jesus.
B. We are to BAPTIZE the convert.
He commissioned us to baptize all nations.
Two things need to be noted here.
1. Baptism is of crucial importance.
Christ says that it is as essential as teaching, despite the fact that it is a one-time act. It is as much a part of the commission of Christ as discipling and teaching.
Christ is definitely teaching that baptism is to be the immediate sign and the identifying sign that a person is now stepping out of the heathen (unbelieving) ranks and taking his stand with Christ.
2.Baptism “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” means more than just saying a formula as one is baptized, much more. It means...
A statement of faith: of belief in God as the true Father of Jesus Christ; of belief in Christ as the true Son of God, the Savior of the world; of belief in the Holy Spirit as the Comforter of the believer.
A commitment to follow God: to follow Him as revealed in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
C. We are to TEACH the converts
Here is were we drop the ball many times. Their is more to it than just getting them saved and baptized. We Must teach!
He commissioned us to teach all that Christ had commanded. Teaching is just as
essential as making disciples and baptizing. One is not to be emphasized over the other.
All are part of the commission of our Lord. Note what is to be taught (edidaske): “all
things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
V. You Must Realize How To Get The Work Accomplished.
A. First, minimize your fears.
Over and over Jesus said, “be not afraid.” He said, “Lo I am with you, always.”
1. Note the great promise: “I am with you.” He gave emphatic assurance: not “I will be with you,” but “I am with you.” Christ is with the believer as the believer goes forth to make disciples of all nations.
2. Note the boundless promise: “alway, even unto the end of the world.” There is not a moment when Christ is not with the believer to help him in his witness, even if his witness means abuse, persecution, and martyrdom.
Yet our fears keep us from doing the work of the Lord.
B. Secondly, maximize you faith.
Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
The Jews clearly understood what Jesus meant by “removing mountains.”
The phrase was a Jewish idiom or proverb meaning “to remove difficulties”
The greatest difficulties in human life can be removed by faith. Prayer and faith can do anything for God. They can remove all kinds of mountains: fear, disappointment, depression, despair, sickness, temptation, guilt, weariness, loneliness, persecution, heartache.
Such mountains loom ever so large as a barrier before man’s path. Such mountains can really defeat life. How can they be overcome? By prayer and faith—praying and believing God even to the point of fasting
C. Thirdly, Magnify your fervor
Romans 12:11 “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
The charge is twofold.
1. Do not lag in zeal; do not be slothful in business.
The word “slothful” means to be lazy, slow-moving, sluggish, lethargic, complacent,
hesitating, delaying. The word “business” means diligence, zeal, earnestness.
The believer just cannot approach life in a lackadaisical, easy-going, slow-moving
fashion. The world is reeling in pain, with millions starving and suffering due to man’s selfishness and sin, hoarding, disease, war, death—and the list could go on and on.
The believer must not give in to sluggishness and complacency. He must serve the Lord with all diligence and zeal and earnestness. He must be enthusiastic in his service.
2. Be fervent in spirit.
The word “fervent” means to be hot, to boil, to set aflame.
The believer’s spirit is to be hot, that is, boiling and flaming for Christ. The believer must have a holy zeal for Christ. He must be aflame in his service for Christ. Why? The world is reeling under the weight of desperate need and dying without Christ and being doomed to an eternity separated from God.
