"A GLORIOUS PICTURE OF THE WORK OF GOD"
By. Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com
JOHN 9:1-41
9:3 Jesus said,"the works of God should be made manifest."
9:3 SHOULD BE MADE MANIFEST 5319 phaneroo fan-er-o’-o (fon-i-ra-o): to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self). To make actual and visible, realised
God wants us all to be artist of His glorious work. I wonder what kind of portrait are we painting?
I want us to consider the Facets of God’s work in regard to Jesus and the conveying of these same ideas today.
God’s work is revealed when we truly understand these three facets of His work: There is the element of:
1. COMPASSION
A little girl was trying very hard to take care of her sick mother. She did everything to make her mom feel more comfortable in bed, then quietly slipped into the kitchen. She had seen her mother make hot tea for her father when he was sick so she set out to do the same for her ailing mom. With cup and saucer in hand, she took the tea into the bedroom and her mother was touched by this sweet act of compassion. The mother showered her daughter with praise and then said, "I didn’t know you could make tea." The little girl beamed with pride as she told her mom how she made it "I boiled the water and tea leaves together just like you always do." The mother listened attentively while sipping the tea. The girl continued her story by stating, "But I couldn’t find the little strainer thing so I used the flyswatter." Her mom nearly spit out the tea as she exclaimed, "You used the flyswatter?!" The little girl comforted her mother’s concerns by expl_aining,t"Oh,, but don’t worry Mommy. I used the old flyswatter so I wouldn’t mess up the new one." James Dobson’s Bulletin, June 1998, p. 1
If you are going to be involved in the work of God (that is, eternal valued work, God ordained work), work that goes way beyond the work or good intentions of man SEE I CORINTHIANS 3:5-15, then you need what Jesus had.
There are 4 elements of the compassionate work of God that are essential if a believer is going to be involved in the work of God. There is the element of
1. Priority 9:1 & 4 "And as Jesus passed by" (He was escaping for His life but he had a greater priority)
Jesus said in 9:4 "I Must work" 1163 die (day): Here are some Greek aspects of definitions regarding this work:
it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper 1 a) necessity lying in the nature of the case
1 b) necessity brought on by circumstances or by the conduct of others toward us.
1 c) necessity in reference to what is required to attain some end 1d) a necessity of law and command, of duty, equity
l e) necessity established by the counsel and decree of God, especially by that purpose of his which relates to the salvation of men by the intervention of Christ and which is disclosed in the Old Testament prophecies
1 e1) concerning what Christ was destined finally to undergo, his sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension
2. Perception 9:1 "he saw" (perception is derived prior to the priority)
3. Practice 9:4 "I must work"
9:4 WORK 2038 ergazomai er-gad’-zom-ahee (er-God-zo-my):
1) to work, labour, do work 2) , "do business" 3) to do, work out 3a) exercise, perform, commit 3b) to cause to exist, produce
4. Persistence 9:4 "the night cometh when no man can work"
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
II. COMMUNICATION 9:8-34
How is the work of God effectively communicated? It is best communicated when there is: 1. Receptivity 9:7 &36-38
2. Observation 9:8-9
3. Declaration 9:15 & 25-27
III. CONTEMPLATION 9:5
Ephesians 3:10-11 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly (places) might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
The purpose of God’s work:
1. The Glory of God 9:3
2. The salvation of Man 9:35-38
3. The Defeat of Satan 9:39
