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Aug 16 2020

Bible Truth for Black Lives Matter – Part 2

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Bible Truth for Black Lives Matter – Part 2

By Pastor • Individual Lessons • 0

Aug 16 2020

Bible Truth for Black Lives Matter – Part 1

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Bible Truth for Black Lives Matter – Part 1

By Pastor • Individual Lessons • 0

Jul 26 2020

The Lord’s Work – Part 5

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The Lord’s Work – Part 5

The Lord’s Work – Part 5

Let’s back up there in Galatians 5 (works of the flesh, fruit of the Spirit):

Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

If you must be circumcised and keep the law, you are still in bondage.

If you must love your neighbor, do humanitarian work, fight for freedom of Religion, build houses for the homeless, go to church, go door-knocking, hand out tracts, teach Sunday school, or even try to, or desire to do these things… If you must be better, if you must WORK, you are seeking to be justified by the works of the law.

Ye are fallen from grace, Christ has profited you nothing, and you are still in bondage under the law.

“But, we don’t do the law”, you say. “No, we don’t do the law of Moses! We just believe in Jesus and try to be like him, to live like Paul. We just try to maintain good works.”

Oh, that’s not “the law”? Remember the 1^st commandment? Remember the 2^nd commandment – love thy neighbor as thyself? All the law and the prophets hang on those 2 commandments.

The law is nothing but to do “good works”, “good things”. The laws of Moses are really no different than the laws of men.

Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another😉

Who are thou that judgest another… thou that judgest does the same things!

The Gentiles do the SAME THINGS!!! It may not be Moses’ law, but they do have a law.

The work of the law is written in their hearts… by NATURE!! By nature, the law that they are to themselves, the law that their conscience uses to judge and condemn others, says the same things contained in the law of Moses. That is what they are using to judge each other, while they excuse themselves. And while they judge those that do SUCH THINGS, they do the SAME THINGS.

They are a law unto themselves, by nature. I’ll call this law: the natural law – the law of nature.

The whole world seeks to be justified by this law: the natural law. The law of themselves. The law of their conscience.

If I do enough good, and not too much evil, I will be convinced/excused. I will have proved my faith.

In effect, this is not a different law than the law of Moses. The two laws contain the same things.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Every false Christian will add works into salvation. Mormons, JWs, Amish, Mennonites, Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Methodists, Pentecostals, and all other supposed “Christians” who do not simply believe in Jesus Christ ALONE.

But when they see these verses, regarding “the works of the law”, they believe that THOSE works are only contained in the law of Moses, and thus they are exempt from this condemnation of being “justified by the law” and thus “fallen from grace”.

Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

“Oh no, I don’t believe we are saved by good works, we are saved by Jesus, BUT… AND…”, here comes the leaven!, “…true faith requires, or prompts, or is defined by good works.”

“Oh, but we don’t follow the law!” Yeah, you do.. you follow the natural law.

The work of the law has always been written in the hearts of men. Now is no different.

Any good works that men strive to do are works of the law. They are the same works.

The commandments of that natural law are the against the doing of the SAME THINGS – touch not, taste not, handle not… adultery fornication, idolatry.. and such like! You think you are not under the law of Moses, but you are under the law of yourself which contains the SAME THINGS.

If any good works are required for salvation (to obtain, to keep, or to prove), then one is seeking to be justified by the works of the law. These condemnations do not only apply to justification by the law of Moses. It applies to justification by ALL works of nature – all works of the flesh.

Romans 2:27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

While the Gentiles were far off and without God.. they had the same things contained in the law of Moses… written in their hearts.

Hypothetically, if the Gentiles, who had not the law of Moses, were able to keep the natural law, they would be saved. They would not be accused of the law as transgressors. The law would not allow them to be stung by sin and death.

Romans 2:25-26 For circumcision [being under the law of Moses] verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. [The law of Moses does not protect you from death if you break it] 26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? [the law of nature is no different!]

Not “if thou break the law”… but “if thou BE a breaker of the law”.

Circumcision (being a Jew) does a man no good if he is a breaker of the law. Circumcision (of the heart, in the Spirit) does US good because we are no longer breakers of the law. We are no longer under the law (the natural law). We are FREE from the law. We are FREE from the flesh. We have LIBERTY from the law, and from the sin and death it allows to sting us.

Adam wasn’t circumcised. He didn’t need to be. We wasn’t a breaker of the law. He was free from the law, until that moment of his eating the fruit, when he was placed under the law. He wasn’t circumcised, and didn’t need to be. His uncircumcision was counted for circumcision because he was righteous… he kept the righteousness of the law.

You can circumcise your heart all you want, but if you ARE a breaker of the law…

Unless the Lord frees you from the law, and then circumcises your heart by the Spirit and births you as a new creature, your self-made circumcision (i.e., repenting from your sin, determining to put away your sins, promising to live the rest of your life for God) is counted for uncircumcision.

Put Simply: Whether circumcised or uncircumcised, if you are a breaker of the law (of Moses or nature) you cannot be counted righteous.

You have to keep the law perfectly in all points, or you’re guilty of all. And since none do so in the flesh.. we are all counted unclean, uncircumcised.

No matter how sincere your “heart change” or how intently you vow to turn from your sin and live your life for Christ, no matter how you try to show your love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance… and no matter how much you sincerely try…

“if thou be a breaker of the law”…

This is what a false Christian does not understand. This is how he messes up true doctrine.

He thinks he can keep the law. He thinks he does better than others. He thinks he does the Lord’s work.

He looks at the fruit, and tries to emulate it. Acting!

He is like a corrupt tree, let’s say a thorn bush, that hears a description of a good tree’s fruit, let’s say an apple tree, and thinks, I can make that! The fruit of the Apple tree is sweet, its juicy, its crisp, just a hint of tart. I can make that! I can look like that! I WILL do that, I promise!

Its dark now, but by morning light, I will have worked those things.

He is LITERALLY like that. That thorn bush can strive and try, and clean himself up, and do as many good works as he wants, he will never make an sweet, crisp juicy apple.

He wants to be good… by being good. If he can just do enough good, then he will be good, right? He wants to do “the Lord’s work”. He wants to obey the righteousness of the law.

Just be a good person, just be what God made us to be! Salvation does that right?

No, salvation makes a NEW man, a NEW creature, in the Spirit. And this carnal creature is completely unchanged and unrighteous.

Back to Galatians 5…

Galatians 5:7-9 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

Just a little leaven. Just a little works required. Just do a little of “the Lord’s work”, just to prove you were sincere.

Galatians 5 SUMMARY: A Christian is free from the law. If the law effects you, Christ does not. Get those hypocrites, those hereticks, those false teachers out of the church, they are subverting souls. And if we live in the Spirit, we should walk in the Spirit.

What does a baby Christian have to know?

No matter what I do or have done, no matter what law I break in this life, no matter if I serve the Lord or not, I will have eternal life because of what Jesus Christ did for me.

Without knowing all the doctrine and the Scripture, he knows that he is free from the law.

Without knowing all the doctrine and the Scripture, he knows that God has promised that he will not be counted as “a breaker of the law”.

How awesome is that?! We are not COUNTED as breakers of the law.

Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute iniquity.

Because we’ve believed only, we are COUNTED righteous.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but [ONLY] believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

“Works don’t save us, but works define us.” Fallwell, TRBC – on James 2

1 – that is exactly the opposite of that the passage says.

2 – it does not use the word “define”. That word is not even in the Bible.

Works “define” us? Where? Before men, or before God? In the flesh, or in the spirit? How? As real or fake? Will you know a real Christian based on his works? What if you don’t serve and obey for the rest of your life? What if you do some of those same things that you condemn? How do those works define you?

I’m not sure how a reasonable person listening to this garbage, would not either believe works are required for salvation, or at least be very confused.

Are they saved? We’d need to check their fruit. But it’s very much in question.

By Pastor • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

Jul 19 2020

The Lord’s Work – Part 4

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The Lord’s Work – Part 4

The Lord’s Work – Part 4

Our works – the Lord’s works – are salvation, eternal life. We believe to receive eternal life. We preach to give eternal life.

As long as we preach the doctrine unleavened, our work is not in vain.

“The works of Christ” only appears 1 time in Scripture.

Matthew 11:2-5 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

His works showed to the Jews signs. But the signs were the demonstration/proof of his power to do those things in the spirit.

Mark 2:9-12 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

He did those temporal works so that mankind would know that He had power to do the true work of the Lord.

Those are works that we, in the flesh cannot do. And yet.. every one of those marvelous works is performed in that very last phrase.

The gospel does every one of those things at the same time: Makes a man perfectly whole and cleansed from all sin.

Back to Matthew 11…

Matthew 11:5-6 … and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Who did he heal? Who did he heal on behalf of? Those that had faith – those that believed.

Those that were not offended – did not disbelieve. They receive healing, eternal life IN HIM.

“The works of Christ” are what HE does, and yet, in the gospel, they are what is GIVEN TO a believer.

We as Christians HAVE those works in us, and we GIVE those works to dwell in others.

We as Christians ARE those works, and we MAKE others to BE those works too.

1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Those that you lead to Christ (the work of the Lord) are your work in the Lord. You will not have laboured in vain.

“The work of Christ” only appears 1 time in Scripture.

Philippians 2:25,30 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. … 30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Paul says Epaphroditus is his companion in labour.

Paul says Epaphroditus is his fellowsoldier.

The work of Christ can only be done by a Christian brother.

The work of Christ is the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Now does the work of the Lord include “ministering to my wants”? We’d need another witness. Even so, Paul is on the frontlines and Epaphroditus is one of his right-hand men. His companion in labour is preaching the gospel, and suffering the same tribulations and persecutions. That is the Lord’s work!

Now, if on top of that, he was working to supply Paul with the carnal things that he needed (food, clothes, a tent) while Paul was praying and preaching, does that mean that you running a soup kitchen is the work of Christ? Feeding the poor is the same as being on the frontlines of the spiritual battle for the souls of mankind? I think not.

But.. supporting the ministry. Supporting those that are going the works of Christ. Ministering to those that are ministering the gospel. I think you have a part in the reward for the work of the Lord.

The work of Christ (as we are made able to do it) is giving eternal life. That is the one and only important work. Find the words of God and give the words of God.

This is the work that is not yet finished. This is the work that He is still working:

Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Romans 9:28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

Ecclesiastes 11:5 As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

The work of God is spiritual. An unsaved man cannot know it.

The World’s Work

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

The things – the works and the fruit of those works – that come out of men’s hearts are evil.

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

The works of the world are evil.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

The world worketh death. But even the weakness of God works eternal life. The weakness of God is stronger than men. (what about the joy of the world? – “the world shall rejoice”)

The works of the world (all, not some!) are evil and they bring forth death.

What about the good works of the world? The works thereof are evil. It has none..

Romans 6:20-22 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? [just the evil ones? Doubt it.. ] for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

In your flesh all your fruit is to death. All the works of the world result in death. All the works of the world are evil.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

which are these – not SOME of which are these.

These are things that man does. These are the works of your flesh. This things come from your heart, your fleshly heart. These are things that you both do, and say, from your heart.

We are all guilty of such things..

Romans 2:1-3 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

If you do such things, and we all do.. you will not escape the judgment. You will be found guilty. You will not inherit the kingdom of God. You are worth of death.

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The works of the world are evil. They all result in death and if you have SUCH works, you will not be justified.

Even with all this here, mankind still accuses or else excuses one another.

Even with all of this here, mankind still wants to compare their works.

Here is what they do:

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, … and such like: … that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

…

Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

“Man, if I can just do these things, instead of the same things that the Bible says are the works of the flesh… If I can just do the Lord’s works… if I can just do the works of the Spirit!” … OOPS!

What does it say there? “The fruit of the Spirit”, not “the works”. This is fruit.

Could these possibly be called fruitS? Maybe. But the Bible doesn’t call THEM fruitS, it calls THIS “the fruit of the Spirit”.

But they are NOT works. If you think they are, please “do them”. You can’t.

You can have them, you can be them, but you cannot do them – e.g., faith, longsuffering.

These are things that one HAS, or one IS, not things that one DOES.

Maybe fruits? Maybe … But definitely not works!

We may not even HAVE these currently in us. It may be something that we will receive.

And notice:

Galatians 5:24-5 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

None of these good fruits come from the flesh. They are of the Spirit, in the Spirit.

You need to get rid of the flesh entirely: it is free from righteousness. The works of the flesh are THESE SUCH THINGS.

“We did the Lord’s work!” That’s what the world will claim.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

We were righteous! We did the Lord’s works! We did good works! We had the proof of salvation!

Oh the Lord will reveal their works and their fruit… by fire. He will show them their fruit.

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You may have done some “good works”. But that is not what you work. You work evil. You work iniquity. You do the works of the flesh. You never did the Lord’s works. You never were righteous and perfect in all your works. You never even did one work FOR the Lord. Not even once. Not even one thing.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

The world’s work is with iniquity. You do your works in unrighteousness. Works done in the flesh are never without iniquity. You will never be justified by those works. Even as proof.

By Pastor • Individual Lessons, Salvation • 0

Jul 12 2020

The Lord’s Work – Part 3

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The Lord’s Work – Part 3

The Lord’s Work – Part 3

Our work

“Martha, on the other hand, was doing what she was supposed to be doing. She was focused on doing the Lord’s work. Doing the Lord’s work for her was preparing the meal and caring for other’s needs. It was her job and her calling. It was how she was serving the Lord.”

TheMennonite.org.

Luke 10:41-42 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Why did he refer to Mary’s choice as “that good part”, and not, “the better option”?

If Martha was doing the Lord’s work, could it possibly be taken away from her?

Of course not. This work was not the Lord’s work. It was not even serving the Lord. It was serving men. When you serve men you get praise of men, not praise of the Lord. You have your reward.

Matthew 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

You will receive according to your works. If Martha’s works were the Lord’s works, she would receive good for them. They would not be taken away. But she did not choose “that good part”, did she?

1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

There are only two sorts… Yours and His. Man’s and the Lord’s. Carnal works and spiritual works.

If you do “the Lord’s work” you will not lose your reward. The Lord’s work does not burn.

Are you holy, pure, just, righteous, and perfect in all the works which you do?

Psa_145:17 (KJV) The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Dan_9:14 (KJV) … for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: …

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

You will be judged by the word of God. All of your works will be tried by the word of God. Martha’s works will be tried by the word of God. She will lose those works. They will be taken away from her.

If your works are carnal like Martha’s, they will burn, and you will lose them.

If your works are your works, and not the Lord’s works, they will be taken away from you.

Luke 10:38-40 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

Mary chose the word of God. And when the word of God is tried by the word of God, it does not burn. It will not be lost. She chose a good work. She chose, not to work for the Lord, but she chose the Lord’s work.

Does your work just look like a good work, or is it truth, perfect, holy, eternal? Martha’s works look good still today to the human eye… but it was not a true good work.

Proverbs 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

The works of the wicked are deceitful – a trick.

Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

You will be rewarded for having obtained (kept) His works. His works are very important at our judgment. Our works better be His works. We better understand how to keep and do them.

How can a man keep the works of the Lord? How can he do them?

How can I open the eyes of the blind? The ears of the deaf? Loose the tongue of the dumb?

How can I heal the sick, the maimed, the lame? How can I raise the dead?

How can I take one piece of bread and feed thousands?

How can I turn water into wine – or wine into water? How can I walk on water?

How can I turn the raging of the sea into a calm path to walk though the waters, as by dry land?

How can I teleport myself – being in one place one moment and then somewhere completely different in the next moment?

I can’t. Not naturally. Naturally, there is no way to do those things, at least for those of us who are not Apostles of Christ.

But, I can do any or all those things in the Spirit being a saved man in Christ Jesus. There is a way.. and it is..

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

There is no way for a natural sinful man, born of a woman to work the works of God.

You’re not going to do the Lord’s work by doing humanitarian work, working in medicine, surgery, teaching children to read, policing the streets, recycling all your materials, saving the whales, making masks or face shields to protect people from the coronavirus, quarantining yourself in your home, going out to protest the quarantine, going out to protest against racism or police brutality, peacefully protesting, violently protesting, rioting and looting, posting twitter comments, posting videos, singing songs, writing songs of peace and love, going to war in Vietnam, protesting the war in Vietnam, going to war in Iraq, protesting the war in Iraq, by fighting for socialism, or fighting against socialism, working the soup-kitchen, funding a soup-kitchen, giving to charity, giving money to the beggar at the stoplight, giving a home to the beggar at the stoplight, giving money to Black Lives Matter, giving money to the Trump Campaign, even giving away all of the earthly possessions to feed the poor, etc.

You can negotiate a nuclear disarmament with North Korea, you can negotiate peace in the middle east, you can divert climate change and “save the world”. But..

None of this is doing the Lord’s work. Those are men’s works. Those are the things that all men do.

This world is dying, and you are not going to save it.

Oh but working in the church, or associated with a church ministry, that is different you say.. that must be the Lord’s work… Well. No not really.. You’re not going to do the Lord’s work by raising money for your church, by inviting people to church, by knocking on doors twice a week, by running a bus route every Sunday, by handwriting and mailing letters to every home in Laurel to encourage them to have faith in God through difficult times – and giving them a link to JW.org, by setting up a pool for public baptisms, by organizing 3-on-3 basketball tournaments, organizing church bingo nights, church picnics, offering money to the church, donating clothes and other goods to the church, visiting the sick, visiting the prisoners, visiting the elderly at nursing homes, Christmas caroling, writing Christian books, movies, games.

Those are nice and good things. Everyone agrees. But its not the Lord’s work. Unsaved people do all these same things too. You can choose to believe you’re doing “the Lord’s work”, but you won’t be standing on the Scripture for justification.

But… we CAN do the work of God, Scripturally, very easily, very simply.

John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

So how can we do His works? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s work is perfect. So how can we do His works? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, Perfectly!

For an unsaved man, that is the only way he can work the Lord’s work.

And then, once one has done His work, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, has received eternal life, and he IS the Lord’s work, THEN he is then able to do the Lord’s work. How? The same way, believing the word of God, and giving others a perfect belief in the word of God.

Psalms 74:12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

This is the Lord’s work: Salvation.

And this is exactly what we Real Christians can uniquely do: the Lord’s work – work salvation.

Why? – Because we possess the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Give bread from heaven. Build the temple, New Jerusalem. Plant and grow the true vine Israel in heavenly places. Raise the dead. Heal the sick. Open the eyes of the blind. Save the oppressed.

2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

We work salvation, together with Him. We work eternal life, together with Him. How? By preaching.

This is how we work the Lord’s work.

This is how Paul can say…

1 Corinthians 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

Paul wasn’t talking about any of those things mentioned above, and he wasn’t talking about his tent-making. He was talking solely about preaching the gospel to the lost and the Christian churches.

Acts 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Our job is not to work with our hands… it is to speak (not do) the works of God.

That is how we work the works of God: Salvation in the midst of the Earth.

That is how we raise the dead, heal the sick, open the eyes of the blind, and turn blood into living water.

That is how we make a new creature. That is how we divide the Red Sea.

That is how we teleport ourselves and others. We reach into the fire and pull them out. In a moment they are escaped from captivity in death and hell and are seated in heavenly places.

Freely giving away “all things” – eternal life. That is charity – that is the work of the Lord.

Jeremiah 51:10 The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

He is our righteousness. The work of the Lord is His righteousness.

Psalms 98:2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

The work of the Lord is making known His righteousness. That is what He does, and that is what a Christian is uniquely able to do.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The work of the Lord, done in the Lord, is not in vain. It will never be lost or destroyed. We will never lose our reward, our recompense for doing it.

Is it fair to say that whatever work we do, while being in the Lord (saved), is not in vain? When you go to work? When you fix the church’s bathroom? When you sing in the choir? Not based on this passage.

So then how do we do the work of the Lord, in the Lord? You know by now, but let’s see if this holds up to our definition.

To answer this question, let’s ask the opposite question, that is, what labour can be done in the Lord, in vain?

Well you do it, but your heart is really being selfish…?

Well you do it, but then you work against it later…?

Well you tried, but you didn’t succeed…?

Well you succeed, but then later it gets destroyed, or stolen, or it dies…?

Instead of guessing or conjecturing, let’s let the Scripture speak…

The root words “labour” and “vain” appear together in 5 verses in the NT.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Not much insight here. That one isn’t really talking about labour in vain. Doesn’t explain what would make one’s labour be in vain. But these:

Galatians 4:9-11 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

1 Thessalonians 3:5-8 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

Vain labour is due to a destruction of faith in the pure doctrine of Christ.

When churches stop teaching the truth of the gospel, when false prophets deceive souls, and take away the fruit of the gospel, labour is in vain. When the lump is pure, there is profit, but when it is leavened, the work is in vain. When pure doctrine is leavened, our labour of the work of the Lord (the gospel), is in vain.

Galatians 4:9-11 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements … 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

If you’re turning to the works of the law, I may have laboured in vain.

If you never truthfully got saved, I’ve laboured in vain.

If you’re not teaching the truth now, I’ve laboured in vain.

Galatians 3:1-4 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? … 4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

When a church’s doctrine is corrupted, the church labours in vain, and is labored upon in vain.

Does that mean Paul won’t receive a reward for setting up the church in truth at the first? Has Paul lost rewards because Satan corrupted the church? I would think likely not. Maybe he loses potential fruit?

The point is that the work of the Lord is the gospel, and preaching it, undefiled, is work that we can do in the Lord, which is never in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

This whole chapter is about “stay steadfast in the doctrine and keep preaching it because there is a certain reward for preaching, because there is a sure resurrection according to our preaching”.

As long as the pure gospel is preached (you being in the Lord, doing the work of the Lord) your labour is not in vain.

By Pastor • Individual Lessons • 0

Jun 28 2020

The Lord’s Work – Part 2

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The Lord’s Work – Part 2

The Lord’s Work – Part 2

Now, today, in the NT, there IS a way to “do the Lord’s work”. Not carnally!! But spiritually…

John 4:31-34 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

“My meat is… to finish His work”, Jesus says. If that can be taken in reverse… “my meat” is to finish His work.

So…. to EAT – or to HAVE or to GIVE “my meat” is to finish His work.

Jesus said, “My meat is… to finish His work”. So to eat Jesus’s meat is to finish His work.

John 6:35, 54-56 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. … 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

IF: To eat His meat is to believe on Him.

AND: His meat is to finish His work.

THEN: To believe on Him is to finish His work.

So, if you’ve believed on Jesus, you’ve finished the same work that He finished. You’ve done the Father’s will, and finished His work. You’ve eaten His finished work.

His work, His words, eternal life is completed and manifested in you just like that blind man.

You don’t have to do what Jesus did. You don’t have to open the eyes of the blind.

You don’t have to walk as he walked. You don’t have to be a good little soldier and obey your whole life. You don’t have to endure the cross! You just have to eat.

1 Corinthians 10:18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

Everything he did and everything He is, you are partaker of, by eating of His meat.

IN JESUS, you went to the cross and died, you were buried and rose again, you ascended on high, “now no more to return to corruption.”

Jesus has already finished the works. Jesus was the work of God! Jesus is the finished work of God.

He became meat, and broke His body. By eating his meat, one is made a partaker of His work, His sacrifice. One not only does, but finishes, the work of Christ by eating Jesus’s meat, His own body.

We can talk about serving the Lord as a Christian and doing “the Lord’s work”, but unless you have done this thing, you cannot and have never worked the Lord’s works.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

This is not a work we do, but what He does in us.

To eat that spiritual meat is to (1) finish His work (2) to have His work in you.

Not only has a Christian done His work, and possessed His work, but he/she IS His work.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Nothing you do, of yourself, is His work. Those are your works.

You don’t do your work to get saved. You become His work in the Spirit.

To eat that spiritual meat is to (1) finish His work, (2) to have His work in you, and (3) to BE His work.

This is the Lord’s work… what HE works.

Isaiah 49:20-21 The children which thou [Zion] shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. 21 Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?

Who are those children? That’s us!

Isaiah 29:23 But when he [Jacob] seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

Remember this?

Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

God did just that, literally!

John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

1 Peter 2:4-5 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a living stone. The people, the living stones, are the work of God.

These are HIS works. He makes them with HIS own hands.

Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

The building of the city of New Jerusalem is His work.. made by His hands.. and yet, made “without hands”.

“without hands” appears 4 times in Scripture. Each time it stands in opposition to a work of man’s hands. Each time it refers to a work that the Lord does.

Daniel 2:34,45 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. … 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, …

That stone was Jesus. The Lord made a body for himself “without hands”.

Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Israel circumcised his children “with hands” under the old covenant. We are both born and circumcised without hands (i.e., with the hands of God).

Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

The true vine and the branches that abide in it are the work of His hands. You are the work of His hands.

A Christian (brother) is the work of the Lord.

Romans 14:20-21 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Your Christian brother is the work of God. Love your brother. Don’t offend those that would become brothers. And don’t offend those that are.

Paul’s sermon in the synagogue at Antioch: after preaching Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Acts 13:38-41 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

The work of God is something that is to be believed. The work of God is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The work of God is not something we must do. It is something you must believe, or perish.

Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

His work is truth! This poor world is so deceived…

Psalms 74:12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

The Lord works salvation. He saved his people Israel from their enemies in the flesh, and today He saves His people Israel (in the Spirit) from their enemies in the spirit. Eternal salvation is His work.

The Lord also works desolation. Salvation to the righteous, and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

In both cases, if He does the work, He does not fail, he does not mess up, he does not come short. He does exactly what he purposes to do.

So does America’s military really do the Lord’s work?

Does Black Lives Matter do the Lord’s work?

Do the liberal media and politicians do the Lord’s work?

Do the conservative media and politicians do the Lord’s work?

Do the police officers do the Lord’s work?

Do the the doctors do the Lord’s work?

Do the construction workers do the Lord’s work?

No. No. and No!

By Pastor • Individual Lessons • 0

Jun 21 2020

The Lord’s Work – Part 1

Downloadable Word document:

The Lord’s Work – Part 1

The Lord’s Work – Part 1

“I just got back from a trip making prosthetics and orthotics for free for the less fortunate in the 3rd world. One of my friends told me I was “doing The Lord’s work” which pissed me off for 2 reasons.

No, I was doing humanitarian work that I feel is important, not something a religion told me to.

If it’s The Lord’s work, why the h*** wasn’t he doing it??? I’m sick of picking up this dude’s slack, these people need help.”

Self Proclaiming Atheist on Doing ‘The Lord’s Work’

“We truly believe we are doing the Lord’s work.”

Nancy Pelosi on fighting for Dreamers’ rights.

TheMennonite.org.

What is the Lord’s work? How do we do it?

Is it humanitarian work? Is it making the world a better place? Is it fighting for equality and social justice? Is it protesting peacefully? Or nonpeacefully? Is it condemning the riots? Is it loving our neighbor? Is it giving to charity? Is it “saving” lives as a doctor? Is is serving food as Martha did? Is it however you decide, or however you feel called to serve the Lord?

Is the Lord’s work anything he asks us to do? If He asks you to take out your trash – is that the Lord’s work? If he asks you to bake a turkey and deliver it to the homeless – is that the Lord’s work?

I believe the answer is No. No. And No. Those things would be our work.

The Lord’s work is what He has worked, or, what He is working.

The Lord’s Work

1^st occurrences of “work”

Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

What God created and made was His work. He made all of heaven and earth and it was very good.

Psalms 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

Psalms 28:5 Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.

The Lord’s work is the work that the Lord does with His hands.

Psalms 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

Psalms 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

Judges 2:7 And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

Those great works He did for Israel, those are the Lord’s work.

Psalms 66:5-6 Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. 6 He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.

Those great, terrible, wonderful works that the Lord did for Israel are HIS works.

Is that what you went overseas to do for the third world countries?

Is that what Nancy Pelosi wants to do for the dreamers?

When you can do those wonders that The Lord did in Egypt… When you can by your breath part the Red Sea and make a way of dry ground in between two walls of water I will admit that you can do the Lord’s work. When you can bring forth water out of a rock, I will admit that you are doing the Lord’s word. When you can turn bitter waters into sweet, and raindown bread from heaven, I will admit that you are doing the Lord’s work. When you can hold the sun and the moon in place that they move not, I will admit that you are doing the Lord’s work.

When you can do all (or any!) of those great wonders, I will admit that you are doing the Lord’s work.

Because those are the things that He does. Those are the Lord’s works.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Psalm 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Can you really do the Lord’s works, and do them perfectly, holily, without error, guile, sin?

But now things are surely different in the New Testament, no?

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Jesus doesn’t say, let’s all do the works that my father gave me to finish.

He doesn’t say, You need to do my father’s works as I do them.

No, Jesus did His own works. They were His works.

But… I mean Jesus says follow me, so that must mean do the works that I do, right?

John 9:2-4 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Jesus worked the works of God.

He opened the eyes of the blind. He walked on water. He raised the dead. He healed the lame and the sick.

Are those His works? Based on the passage here it sounds like it… And maybe you wouldn’t be wrong to say it… But notice, Jesus didn’t say he was born blind that I might work the works of God on Him. He said that the works of God should be made manifest in Him. The works of God is something you can see. Something that can be manifested.

His work was not to do that miracle, His work was that miracle – the blind receiving sight, light manifesting in darkness, the dead brought to life.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Well Jesus hadn’t even gone to the cross yet, how could he say he had finished the work?

There were a whole lot of blind sick, lame, and deaf people that Jesus had not healed. There were a whole lot of dead that had not been raised.. How could he be done the work? That was all His Father wanted him to do? What about liberating the Jews, giving them equal rights?! What about setting up a kingdom?!

The doing of those miracles was not the work that Jesus came to do.

The work of Christ is eternal life, and His work, His job, was to manifest that life.