Working God’s Way

Prayer

As you are turning in your bibles, or pulling the text up in your bible app, I want to preface this mornings text with a little context.

There are some passages of scripture that people in our world will use to try and discredit the Word of God. They will say things like, why would I trust that book or the God of that book if it condones slavery.

And while at face value, that may sound like a solid argument, because the text we are about to read is all about slaves and masters, we need to remember the culture and context of the Scripture.

This letter of Pauls was originally written to the church in Ephesus around 2,000 years ago. And the slaves/masters relationship that they had back then were closer to bondservants than slaves.

We hear the word slaves today and our minds go right to the Transatlantic Slave Trade…where millions of Africans were captured and forced into a life of slavery with no hope of freedom or escape.

And this is something the bible does explicity condemn in 1 Timothy 1:9-10

1 Timothy 1:9–10 NIV

9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

Overall though the Bible was used to give weight to the abolistionist movement, and I would argue so far as to say that the Word of God was the major factor in working towards and end to the horrible practice, because when you look from beginning to end, the work of God is to bring about righteousness and freedom. It tells us that we as humans, are created in the image of God. And this idea alone challenges the notion of slavery. Jesus also taught the golden Rule, The principle of treating others as you would want to be treated. You can look at the Exodus Narrative and read about the story of the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt. The Word of God explicity condemns certain aspects of the institution, such as the mistreatment of slaves, and while it doesn't outright forbid its existence. The Bible emphasizes humane treatment: It encourages slave owners to treat their slaves with kindness and respect, and it instructs slaves to be obedient and submissive. The Bible envisions a future without slavery: In passages like Isaiah 61:1, the prophet Isaiah foresees a time when captives will be set free and the oppressed will be avenged.

So when we approach the text this morning, remember that Paul was writing to a church in which there was a system of slavery/ bondservants, where people would sell themselves into a situation because they needed the money. They would work towards paying off that debt. And God knows how even that system could lead to human suffering and so he used Holy Spirit to inspire Paul to address the system of the day.

So now that that is cleared up…

Ephesians 6:5–9 NIV

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

If we were going to contextualize this passage into today, we could substitute the words slave for employee and master for manager or employer.

Work…and I’ve titled todays message “Working God’s Way”

See 3 weeks ago we talked about Marriage God’s Way, then a couple weeks ago we looked at Parenting God’s Way and today we are looking at the next area of relationship that most of us spend a majority of our time with the people in our lives at work.

And each of these themes comes out of Paul’s encouragement to be filled with the Spirit…

Work…

We are designed by God to Work…

In fact Paul writes in

Romans 12:1

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

I love the way Eugene Peterson summarizes this passage:

(Romans 12:1 MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

Because of God’s great mercy towards us…the best thing we can do for him is give him back our lives.

And one of the largest areas of our lives that I truly believe that God wants us to give to him is our work.

God worked…

Genesis 1:1-

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Work was instituted before the Fall- Many in our country and in our world today have a false idea/notion that work is a bad thing…but God worked…He produced, he created and he looked back at all of His work and said…Yeah…that was Good.

You and I are created in his image…to work. To create, to produce, to contribute, to steward/manage.

Genesis 1:26-28 NIV

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Genesis 2:15-

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

My work is FROM God.

Ephesians 2:8-10-

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

REALIZE: NOT ALL WORK IS FROM GOD… I’m not trying to put anyone down, but there are people out there doing things that they shouldn’t be doing trying to make ends meet.

You DON’T have to work in the church for your work to be considered from God. REMEMBER THERE IS NO SACRED/SECULAR DIVIDE

Exodus 31:1-6

Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. 6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you:

These guys were filled with the Spirit of God in order to create. To work with their hands.

Do you ever wonder what Jesus did for the first 30 years of his life? We don’t get a whole lot to work off of here.

- He went to a wedding and did the greatest party trick ever…

When his parents went to the temple to worship, he stayed behind and playing teacher’s pet with the rabbi’s He also learned his earthly dad’s trade…he was a carpenter. This was the work he chose until God placed him with the right people at the right time to Glorify the Father through doing the ultimate work on the cross.

The son of God worked…He created he built…BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT EVERYTHING HE WAS DOING WAS NOT ONLY FROM GOD BUT FOR GOD.

2. My work is FOR God.

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Paul wrote it this way in our text for today..

Ephesians 6:5–8 NIV

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

What would it truly look like if:

- instead of working for the weekend- PASSIVE

- instead of working for your boss- PROMOTION/PRAISE

- instead of working for your family… PRESSURE

You work instead for God. You do everything with all your heart to serve him…

What would it look like to be a light in your area of influence? (MARKETPLACE, SCHOOL, NEIGHBORHOOD)

We are called to be salt and light to the people around us and the way we can work for God is to realize that there is a reason you are where you are.

SOME OF YOU ARE DOWNRIGHT MISERABLE WHERE YOU ARE AT…and you might need to get out of there. Life is too short to stay in a situation that is miserable when you don’t have to. But there are others who are miserable in your current place of employment but God isn’t calling you to leave yet. But maybe God is calling you at this time to press in and be a light. I think sometimes we have this false sense that if God is calling me somewhere then everything will feel right, will go easy and you’ll know it because of how good it is…but I would argue if you just take a brief examination of Scripture. God often calls his people to the hard places…and he says that Take Heart because He will be with us.

I get so much encouragement these past few months from Ben & Chelsea Anderson…who have faced hardship after hardship with their latest move overseas to Guinea…they know they are in the center of God’s will and therefore the enemy has ramped up every attack on them and their family…trying to discourage them from being a light to that area…

SPEAK TO THE ELDERS…THE RETIREES…

God isn’t done with you yet. Even though you may not be “working” a job…you still have a place of influence. Your work for the Lord is not done yet, or you still wouldn’t be here.

SPEAK TO THE STAY AT HOME MOMS-

The pressure you feel might be even greater that that of a CEO. Because God has called to you to take care of his kids… Yes they are your kids, but what if instead of raising them for yourself, you see as rearing them unto the LORD?

What would it look like for you to be salt and light in your area of influence, not just with your kids but with the other SAHM’s or at the local library…

FOR THE STUDENTS…

God has a work that he has created just for you. Don’t settle…instead seek Him and pursue that dream he has placed down deep inside. In the meantime, while your a barista…don’t work for the company or the paycheck…work unto the Lord.

When we see that our work is for the Lord, we find purpose in the day to day.

My work is from God…my work is for God and lastly…

For the employers…

Ephesians 6:9 NIV

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Treat your employees well…treat them the same way…your work is from the Lord..

Something interesting happened to me

We give MISSION TO THE MUNDANE!

3. My work is WITH God.

1 Corinthians 3:9- For we are co-workers in God’s service…

Did you know we have the ability to carry Christ with us?

Our work is FROM God and our work is also FOR God, but the greatest of these is realizing that we can work WITH God.

Matthew 28:18-20- All authority is HIS…AS YOU Go Make Disciples…and Remember…that He is WITH you!

God is With you in your area of influence. And this is what you are meant to live for.

Being the hands and feet of Christ to those places and people that those of us who work in the church could never reach. YOU are the carriers of the Kingdom of Heaven.

We gather here on Sundays so that we can Go with God on Mondays.

You are made for this…

Challenge: Give glory to God this week by taking Him to work with you.

- Pray for and throughout your day.

- Look for ways to love people.

- Be excellent in everything. - work unto God.