1. Work declares Gods Character
- God's 6 days of creative work (Genesis 1-2)
- God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days
- So to work is to emulate God. Since we were created in God's image, we work because God worked
- God is working in us to work. Therefor when we work it is declaring His character
2. Work declares Gods image
- Ephesians 4:12- Message for the Church and kingdom work. Equipping the saints for ministry. This is local Church's job. Equipping the believers.
- Ephesians 2:10 - we are his workmanship prepared for good works (or equipped for good works)
- Work isn't just 9-5 but it is also doing good for others
- Ask yourself this question. Are you working for the good of others?
- Jesus was working when he "wasn't supposed to"
- John 5:9 john 5:17 Christ is working on the sabbath for Gods glory
- Matthew 12:8 Jesus does this again... He calls out the pharisees and does his work on the man on the sabbath. What's the point? God is always doing good works for others.
** All work is kingdom work for the believer
** 2 Timothy 2:4- Things of this world are not to distract us from our kingdom work
- The dichotomy between secular work and kingdom work is false. All work has dignity. There is a problem with work if we are concerned where we are at on the totem pole. If you are this person you will feed on your futility.
- Have faithfulness in a very little thing or job- do we cut corners or do we fear the Lord to have dignity in our work? Colossians 3:22-24
- You are honoring Him and walking in faith if you are working in the Lord
- Phil 2:14- doing all things without grumbling and disputing
- we give testimony to God with how we handle our work
- The bible has a lot to say about laziness (Proverbs 13:4; Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 18:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 21:25 and plenty more)
3. Work declares his design
- psalms 104- we have a fertile earth that God has given us
- Job 28:5-6 Got to work for that gold
- proverbs 14:23 - work produces and provides for others
- Paul warns us if we do t work and produce for our home we are worse than
an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8)
- So do we work to get? Or work to give?- Working is like God, it declares his design for us. He works for the benefits of others
4. Work declares Gods purpose (for our sanctification)
- Work is the lifelong process for carrying out good works for others for our sanctification
- How do we respond when work seems unfair? God has a purpose in these moments
- Jesus submitted himself under Pilot's authority to carry out Gods work
- Every thorn or prick in work is part of God's purpose
- We learn Christ through the submission of our will when we are at work
- 1 Peter 2:18-25 when we suffer for His name it is a good work. God is honored when we suffer for doing good
- Our problem is that we want to work for ourselves
- God will feed you futility if you take credit or grumble or are not happy with where you are at in your work
- So work hard renewing your mind constantly to honor Christ with all you have (1 Corinthians 10:31)