God’s Work
-Introduction
-Jn 5:17 - When accusations were cast against Jesus for “working” on the Sabbath, Jesus made
this statement.
-What’s the implication? God is at work, even on the Sabbath.
-“While God rested from creation on the Sabbath, nothing can be clearer than that in works
of sustenance, reproduction, healing and providence, God has never rested, and never
made distinctions between the days of our week. In the light of the gospel we find also that
his redemptive work has never ceased, and, considering the part which Jesus was even then
accomplishing in this field of labor, his words ‘and I work’ are full of meaning” (McGarvey/
Pendleton, Four Fold Gospel, Standard Publishing Foundation, Cincinatti, Ohio, pg 199).
-Let’s never forget that God is at work.
-Let’s briefly consider some of the ways that God is at work.
-The Design of the Creation, Nature
-Rom 1:20 - through the design of the creation, nature
-Job 38:19, 26-27, 39; Job 39:1-3
-laws within the creation - i.e. gravity
-Through the creation, God provides for us in abundance.
-Matt 6:27-33
-God Works Through His Word
-1 Pet 1:24-25, Heb 4:12, Rom 1:16
-God’s word has not lost its power. It has not become obsolete.
-God’s word does not become dull. Mankind’s ears can become dull, but not God’s
word - Matt 13:15.
-Through the message of God’s word we find that God’s love has not diminished. His grace
has not faded.
-The opponents of the scriptures have never been able to generate anything that rendered
God’s word obsolete. They simply can’t get rid of it.
-God Works Through His Providence
-We’ll reserve this topic for a separate lesson, Lord willing.
-God Works Through Us
-God chose to utilize mankind in His design.
-Heb 2:1-4
-The apostles were sent out with the Great Commission to “...preach the Gospel...” (Mark
16:15).
-Others then who received the Gospel then spread the Gospel.
-Acts 8:4
-Paul’s instructions to Timothy - 2 Tim 4:2.
-2 Cor 5:19-20
-ambassador = representative
-Students represent schools. Foreign ambassadors represent nations. Our soldiers are
representing the U.S. and, even further, are representing the principles of freedom and
democracy.
-As Christians, we are representatives. Who do we represent? - our God
-But, is Paul speaking specifically of the apostles?
-2 Cor 1:1 - letter from Paul & Timothy - Is this the “we” in 2 Cor 5?
-Even if Paul is speaking of the apostles in particular, through what avenue did they
represent the Lord according to 2 Cor 5? - the word of reconciliation
-Don’t we have the word of reconciliation today? - the Gospel - Col 1:19-23
-We are ambassadors for Christ.
-Now here’s a very, very important question: What are we going to do to represent Christ
in 2006?
-We need to work for God - allowing Him to work through us.
-When we work for God, God accomplishes the results - 1 Cor 3:6.
-Summary and Invitation
-God works in a variety of ways including through mankind. Let’s not hinder His work.
-Rom 8:28, Phil 4:13, John 15:5, Acts 28:20, Col 1:10, 1 Cor 15:58, Heb 13:20-21
-Thanks to the works of God, we can be saved from our sins.
-What about you? Have you obeyed the Gospel of Christ? If not, believe (John 3:15, 8:24),
confess your faith (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), repent (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), be baptized
into Christ (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38), walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-23)
-If you obeyed the Gospel, have you been faithfully working for Him? If not, confess your
shortcomings, repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).
Date: January 1, 2006