God's will: God's work
Notes
Transcript
Handout
God’s will, its good for you
God’s will, its good for you
God’s will it’s for you; it can by known by you so that you can apply God’s good and perfect will (Rom12:2).
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
In this series we have already looked at a few things
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
To rejoice always (1The5:16)
To pray with ceasing (1The5:17)
To give thanks in everything (1The5:18)
To be sanctified, live sanctified (1The4:3)
Now that brings us to another thing we can know about God’s will. It is God’s will that we do good works (1Pt2:11-15)
11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.
15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
That by our good deeds, good behavior they may be seen and glorify God who is in heaven.
That by doing good it may silence the ignorance of fools, oh wait it says foolish men.
Purpose of Good works
Purpose of Good works
We are to have a purposed driven life, to live to please and proclaim Jesus! Good works have an intended purpose that works hand in hand with a purpose driven life.
First, not saved by good works (Eph2:8-9; Tit3:4-7)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
not by works, but by grace through faith! - So let your works demonstrate your faith, oh wait, that comes later, never mind, for now.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
tit3:5-7
(expand on that)
Saved for good works (Eph2:10; Tit2:11-14; Tit3:1, 8, 14)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
(expand on that)
In TItus 2 it says in short
God brings salvation, teaching to to do away with the ungodly so as to do the godly things, while looking for our blessed hope, Jesus Christ
That we would be a people who are zealous for good works!
then moving on to a little in TItus 3.
1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,
Be ready, be zealous for every good deed, good works
8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.
TIt3:
14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
Be ready, be zealous, be learning, be purposed . . . to engage in good works (deeds)
So, do good works
They bring glory to God (Mt5:14-16; 1Pt2:12)
Good works as Jesus says in Matthew shine our light, which we are light, and shine in such as way that others may see it and will glorify the Father who is in heaven
I read 1pt2:12 before, in the form of reminder it is keep our behavior excellent that those who speak evil, slander us, will see our good deeds and glorify God, so very similar to what Jesus said in Mt5.
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
They display the Christ in us, to be more like Him (Lk6:40; Act10:38)
40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
Don’t we want to be like the teacher? Jesus? I know that is really a rhetorical question
They demonstrate our faith (Jm2:14-17, 20, 26)
Faith is displayed, is demonstrated in works, not works to save but from salvation
Faith is displayed, is demonstrated in works, not works to save but from salvation
For we know James say’s faith without works is dead, as the body is dead without the spirit, faith is dead without works.
For we know James say’s faith without works is dead, as the body is dead without the spirit, faith is dead without works.
They demonstrate love and prepare unbelievers to be more receptive (1Pt2:12)
As mentioned before may our good works be seen and give glory to God
They help meet urgent needs of those around us (Tit3:14)
14 Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.
I mentioned this one before, we engage to meet, meet the needs of others, what kind of needs do you think we can see and meet in people?
Examples of Good Works
Examples of Good Works
We are to be shining lights, we are to be living examples of God’s love, of God’s redemption, of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness. So, maybe let’s take a few minutes and look at some biblical examples of doing good, good works that is.
Pure and undefiled religion defined (Jm1:27)
17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
what are the instructions here? - visit, keep helping, and keep unstained by the world (expand; it is love; undefined, unstained by the world is love!)
Some godly examples of godly workers (Job29:12-13; Act9:36-39; Act20:34-35)
Great bible examples here
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. 13 “The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
Godly examples that are followed may bring joy to people when we see and meet the need.
Everyone turn to Act9:36-39 for a minute and lets look at a passage together and pull what we can from it.
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.
38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.
What did Tabitha (Dorcus) do?
What was the results of her good deeds?
34 “You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me. 35 “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Paul here is speaking of his example of good works, so that they would help the weak, and do and give like Jesus did!
Godly works commanded (1The5:14; Gal6:1-2)
14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Instructions please, what are the instructions here?
NOw look at
1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
So you get the idea the good deeds, good works are not always in the physical. They can be spiritual, can be restorative in nature too, can’t they?
Visiting the sick (Jm5:13-15)
Ill that are stuck at home; the shut-ins; those in convalescent hospitals.
Then look what James says.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Pray, sing, call for the elders to pray and anoint and know by faith prayers will be answered and sins forgiven.
Good deeds, good works - Be hospitable (Heb13:2; Rom12:13; Lk14:12-14)
2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
When we are hospitable to strangers they become friends and friends become family.
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
How do we contribute to the needs of the saints?
Well, you cannot go wrong with the words of Jesus on the subject of hospitality
12 And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
lk14:14
What are the results here in (v.14)?
When do you get the results?
Don’t forget the prisoners and the mistreated (Heb13:3)
Jails, prisons you know we are doing work there as well as with the half-way house but what about the mistreated? Look what the hebrew writer says.
3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
A subjective question for you, who are those you would consider mistreated?
I told you we were going to look at Biblical examples of doing good, and good works so still have little more to go, which means more scripture.
Good works in sharing the abundance of God’s blessings (1Tim6:17-19; Heb13:16)
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Let me go back a slide, look at (v.18) what are the instructions?
Why follow the instructions (look back at v.17)?
What are the results of following the instructions (v.19)
But wait, there is more
16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Do it purposefully, why?
Words of encouragement
Words of encouragement
God gives us many opportunities for us to do good, and gives us the ability to do good works in which we were created to do (Eph2:10); so a few words of encouragement about good works.
Do good to all men, Especially the brethren (Gal6:10)
Don’t grow weary or lose heart of doing good (Gal6:9)
Let me give you the passage
9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Don’t be daunted by the task, but make yourself available to the task and step up and step out.
Start at home
Your family, neighbors, neighborhood
Do it at work or at school
Do good for friends, and even those who are not your friends (yet)
Do it in the community
Be at at Beacon, ore anywhere else we see the opportunity to do good, do good and do not grow weary.
(Good works do it picture)
encouragement (encouragement slide) prayer (exit slides)