Working with the Lord

Today I want to spend a little time talking about work. Not the work you do for your paycheck, but the work you do for the Lord. It’s important to talk about this work because it should be the work that matters the most in our lives. As believers we have been charged by Jesus Himself to do His work in the world:

Mark 16:15 ESV

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

These are very important words to anyone who claims to be a believer in Jesus as the Son of God. Anyone who believes that Christ is actually alive because He physically rose from the dead. What’s interesting in the context of this particular verse is what these disciples were doing when Jesus appeared to them and gave them this order.

It was the time right after Jesus had risen from the grave. Jesus Himself was appearing to people who knew him. In Mark 16:9-11 we see that Mary Magdalene sees Jesus and went to tell those who were mourning and weeping but they didn’t believe her. Next in verses Mark 16:12-13 we see Jesus appears to two disciples as they were walking in the country. They went back and told the rest, but they didn’t believe them.

Well, what happens next is interesting. Jesus catches the disciples off guard.

Have you ever been caught off guard? It reminds me of something that happened in our home the other day.

My little baby girl Ollie is incredibly sweet, but she is also incredibly ornery. One day our house was just a little too quiet. If you are a parent with kids under the age of 10 you know exactly what I mean. It was just too peaceful. So I decided to go see what everyone was doing. First, I checked on Katie - no prob - she was in her room working at her desk. Next, I checked on Lanie - great - in bed reading a book. Now to find the one I was worried about, Ollie - where was she? She was in the bathroom applying makeup to her little 4 year old face. BUSTED.

When I busted opened the door she was NOT expecting me! She first was scared, then it took a strange turn, she got angry that I caught her doing something she wasn’t supposed to do!

You know that feeling? You’re just going about your business and something catches you off guard. It’s surprising. Shocking. Sometimes it can be life changing.

This is what happened that day Jesus appeared to His followers...

His followers had given up hope.They thought their master was gone. They knew He was crucified. They knew He was buried. So when people started telling them that He was alive, that He had been raised from the dead, they simply didn’t believe.

Until, He caught them off guard.

Mark 16:14 ESV

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

Can you imagine how horrible it must have felt to have rejected the testimony that Jesus was alive and now Jesus appears to you while you are just reclining at a table eating food? Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not BELIEVED those who testified of Him.

This is very interesting that they had to SEE Jesus before they believed because Jesus is about to tell them to go into the world and proclaim that He was alive. That He atoned for the sins of the world. That if people would surrender to the Lordship of Jesus then they would be saved. YET, when these people first heard this good news they just didn’t believe it was true. They had to see it with their own eyes.

We should put ourselves in the same situation as those early followers of Jesus. You know about Jesus just as those guys did, you’ve heard the teaching of Jesus because you’ve most likely been to church before, You have seen the power of Jesus in action, You may have even, like those early disciples, pledged your life to Christ.

My question to you though is, do you believe that He is alive? Because once those early followers saw Jesus ALIVE in person something changed. They perked up, they heard what He had to say to them, and they hung on every word. Because what He was about to saw was going to change their lives forever.

He said:

Mark 16:15–20 ESV

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Verse 20 is our main focus today. They WENT out and preached and the Lord WORKED with them. You see, they went from a lounging unbelieving group of defeated followers of a defeated messiah to a faith filled, world changing, Jesus believing, devil conquering, CHURCH that is still growing to this day.

2020 is almost gone. It’s been a doozy for sure. But something new is on the horizon - 2021

What are your plans for this next year? Have you even thought about your goals, mission, or objectives? Well, you might have guessed, I have something for you to consider.

Would you consider pushing back from the table of defeat and unbelief and rise in faith to work with the Lord to accomplish something great?

I have few thoughts for you today regarding this work believers are called to do with the Lord:

God Has Chosen Us to do His Work

Imagine if you will that a great doctor has discovered a cure for all cancer. He has a problem though, before it can become available for everyone, it must be taken out to the world. Just one person cannot take it out to all the world; many trained doctors must be the people who bring it to all who are suffering with cancer.

This is a good picture of what the church is to Jesus Christ. It is in Jesus that all people and all nations can be reconciled to God. But before that can happen, they must know about Jesus Christ, and it is the task of the church to bring that about.

Christ is the head; the church is the body. The head must have a body through which it can work. The church is literally hands to do Christ’s work, feet to run upon His errands, and a voice to speak His words.

This is God’s plan. When Jesus spoke those words to His followers that day in Mark 16 He was setting into motion the cure that humanity needed ever since the very first time we turned our backs to Him.

As Christ’s church we are plan A - there is absolutely no plan B.

I, personally, can tell you that I haven’t always thought it was a great idea for God to put me on the team. You might feel the same way, that we are lacking in some areas. Well, we aren’t the first to think this way. Paul wanted the Corinthian Church to understand that God chose them in spite of how insignificant they thought they were.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy[a] when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world,[b] things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

You may say:

I’m not smart enough - perfect, you’re qualified

I’m don’t really know the right people - that’s fine, you know the RIGHT person

I’ve got no money - guess what? You’ll fit right in!

If you are listening right now and you feel like you aren’t good enough, worthless, and your life doesn’t count you need to hear me - God has something for you. He doesn’t make mistakes and you are infinitely more valuable and loved than you can ever know.

We all have worth in the kingdom of God. He has chosen us to do His work.

Think about what Jesus said in

John 14:12–14 ESV

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

These words have a direct impact on your life and our lives together as the church. What they say is that all of us who believe in Jesus will carry on with his work, and in some wonderful way, do something greater than the works of Jesus.

Did you catch that first thing Jesus said? WHOEVER believes in me…This is a promise to ALL believers. This is astonishing. There is no exclusion here if you are a Christian. What Jesus said here is not just for the Pastors, Evangelists, or Missionaries of the world. No, the verse says that WHOEVER believes in me.

Believers, pure and simple, will do the works of Christ.

Immediately we have a problem though…exactly what works is He talking about here?

Water to Wine?

Feeding 5,000?

Walking on water?

We need to define what works Jesus is talking about here.

Back up one verse:

John 14:11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

There’s a connection between verse 11 and 12. We could say it like this:

Believe in me on account of my works - let my works lead you to faith (verse 11), because whoever believe in me (verse 12), will also do works that lead people to believe in me.

Whatever works Jesus had in mind, what defines them here is that they are pointers to Jesus which will help people believe in him.

Look at what Jesus said in

John 10:25 ESV

25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me,

These are the same kind of works Jesus is referring to in chapter 14. You see, the works that we are called to do are the works that point people to Jesus!

We all have gifts, talents, resources that can bring glory to Jesus. Some of those things need to be developed in our lives, but God wants us to bring people to himself.

You don’t need to be some miracle worker! You need to be yourself! You can point people to Christ each and every day. The opportunities are there if we are willing to take them.

We have a part in the kingdom. Be encouraged today! You’re on the team.

There is a problem with our team though… not everyone on the team is 100% committed to this work of Jesus. To me, we could change this world if all of us in this room and watching online decided to be totally commited to the WORK of Christ.

We Must be Committed to His Work

There once lived an evangelist named Henry Varley. Now I don’t know much about this man, but he said something that I want to share with you now:

“The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”

How does that statement hang in your ticker? For me, it hits my heart hard because I can very easily find areas that I am not fully dedicated to God’s purposes. Areas that I know I need to become more committed to His work.

If we are told by Jesus that we are to go and preach the gospel to the world, that He has chosen us, then we had better make sure we are committed to His work.

Jesus talked about work a lot…Did you know that of His more than 40 parables that at least 20 pertain to workers and their work? Isn’t that interesting?

• The parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1–9)

• The parable of the Talents (Matt 25:14–30)

• The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32)

• The laborers in the vineyard (Matt 20:1–16)

• The two builders (Matt 7:24–27)

• The waiting servants (Luke 12:35–48)

If workers and the work make up nearly 50 percent of Jesus’ parables, how important do you think God’s work is to Jesus?

It’s REALLY important!

You know, I used to work at Dillard’s when I was in High school. It was my second job ever, and I sure did love working in that Ladies shoe department. I was really good at it…Well, Dillard’s had this crazy time clock rule. You had to clock in and out with-in 2 minutes of your shift or else you would get written up by your manager. You could only be written up 3 times before you were fired.

This was a hard rule. It didn’t matter if you were the worst or best employee. The system would automatically terminate you if you were late or early on that 3rd mistake.

Some people I worked with were OBSESSED with that time clock. I can remember tears, fights, and anger all happening around that clock. Only the committed people got to keep there jobs because they had to follow those stringent rules. Those that weren’t committed usually didn’t last long at the Dillard’s Empire.

The work of Christ needs to be more important to us than our jobs that supply our paychecks. If the church was as obsessed with the Kingdom of God as the people at Dillard's who were obsessed with the time clock then I really think the world would be a different place.

Unfortunately, we as a church are a bit more on the “not caring” side of things sometimes. We don’t care is we punch in late and leave early. Basically, we aren’t committed.

Jesus said something in John 4 that reminds us that we need to be more commited to the work of the kingdom than the work of this world.

John 4:31-34 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” 33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Growing up, I was very blessed to have a committed church to guide me in my walk with Christ. They made sure that if I wanted to be in church that I always had a ride. They taught me about Jesus. I was given too much candy for memorizing bible verses, and I felt the love of Christ in a real way.

It never once occured to me as a child that the people who were doing the work of Christ were just normal people.

They weren’t getting paid.

They weren’t getting some award for serving.

They weren’t even able to see how much they meant to me at the time.

They were just committed to the work of Christ and, like Mark 16:20 says, Jesus worked with them.

When Jesus said that His food was to do the will of the him who sent him what he was doing was giving us an example of commitment that goes beyond earthly desires.

We need to work for the eternal, not the temporal.

Now, I’ve got to say, I am not trying to make you feel bad enough that you drag your feet and say, OK…I guess I will be committed if you make me…NO WAY.

I am here to ENCOURAGE you to ENGAGE in the greatest JOY that you could ever experience! I will promise you that there is NOTHING greater than doing the work of the kingdom. You want to have a rewarding fulfilled life? Get 100% committed to Christ and start doing HIS work in your life.

Jesus said that He came to give us life! Real true life!

As a group of believers we must understand that God has chosen us to do His work, that we must be committed to that work, and finally know that...

God’s Work is Bigger than We Think

So here we are…at the last point in the sermon. Aren’t you excited?

This actually might be the most important point of the day so stay with me for a couple more minutes. I believe the Lord wants to speak to you.

Christ has given us a command to Go and Preach the Gospel, He has chosen us, We, as His followers, are commited to to do the work, but what can be done that hasn’t already been done?

I’m so glad you asked.

The city planners of New York were planning the future growth of the city. They laid out the streets and numbered them from the center outward. When they began, there were only six or seven streets. In their planning maps, they projected how large they thought the city might grow.

Reaching beyond their wildest imagination, they drew streets on the map all the way out to 19th street. They called it “Boundary Street” because they were sure that’s all the larger New York City would become.

Oh how shortsighted they were. At the last count, the city had reached 284th Street—far exceeding their expectations

It seems to me that we can be fairly shortsighted. We focus on what is right in front of us and forget about the big picture. The problem with that is that God is in the big picture business.

We draw our own maps in our lives and try to fit God into the boundaries we impose when God has a much bigger map in mind.

When you open your heart to the work of God in your life the limits of what can be done through you are thrown out the window because of something really important that we read in our main verse for today.

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs

Did you catch it? It’s only 5 little words but it will unleash the power and authority of God in your life.

“the Lord worked with them”

Oh friends, do you understand the importance of that statement? Jesus himself has commissioned us to do the work of the gospel, but he does NOT expect us to do the work in our own power. He is going to work with us.

This is not new. God has promised this to His people all throughout the Bible.

Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV

8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Joshua 1:9 ESV

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Romans 8:37–39 ESV

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I think we need to think a bit bigger for 2021, don’t you? What can the Lord do in your life?

Do you believe that He can use you to do something great that brings Glory to the Father and Son? Or are you sitting back at the table like those disciples reclining while you eat, defeated, thinking of times gone by, wondering what the future can possibly hold for you?

I’m here to tell you that Jesus is Alive. That He is not defeated. That His Kingdom is expanding, not shrinking, that you can be empowered to go and preach the gospel, and that Christ Himself will work WITH you!

We need to spend a moment here and pray to our father. This is my absolute favorite part of the service. This is where the business happens. This is were our lives get to be set on a new course. This is were we can allow the Spirit of God to minister to us as we call on His name.

Today I gave you three simple points.

1 -God has chosen you

2 - If you are commited to Him He is going to work with you

3 - God work is bigger than we know

So, before we pray together, I want you to get your heart ready to talk with God.

Do you know that He wants you? That He has chosen you? Guess what, you’re going to need to take a step of faith and just believe that’s true. Ask Him to become your Lord. Accept Him today.

Maybe you have made Him your Lord, but you can’t say you’re 100% committed to Him. Today as we pray, recommit to Him. Ask Him to show you were He wants to work with you. Who are the people that you can reach?

Lastly, when you pray today, maybe ask God to expand your vision for this next year. Let Him know that you’re ready to think outside the box. You’re ready to kick fear to the backseat and step out in extreme faith.