The Good Work of God

Introduction

What is this book?

Who was it written to?

Who wrote it?

What is the significance?

Acts 16:6-40 (off and on)

This account is of the beginning of the Philippian church.

This church had a special place in Paul’s heart. He helped start it. - (V.3-5)

(V.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.

What is that good work? That’s what we want to discover.

The Commencement of the work (v.5-v.6)

There is always a beginning. God is a God of beginnings.

Gen. 1:1 - In the beginning, God.

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hebrews 1:1-2

2 Cor. 5:17 - If any man be IN CHRIST he is a new creature...

God begins His work with Jesus. And that is no different with you, God will start His work with Jesus in you.

V.5 - ...From the first day...

Acts 16

God began the work at Philippi with people coming to Jesus.

Jesus loves to do His work. The question is has He started His good work IN you.

The Continuing of the Work (v.6)

In you

Too many Christians believe that they get saved and that’s it. The work is done.

Christ calls us to LIVE for Him. Jesus came and brought people to Him. That is the beginning of the work. It is Christ IN you.

Rom. 6:4 - Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Through you

Acts 9 - The conversion of Paul

Acts 16 - The conversion of Lydia, the little possessed girl, and the jailor

The beginning of the church.

And as His disciples walked with Him, He taught them to be more like Him. That is the continuing work.

Notice that it says He that hath begun a good work, will perform it. Only Christ can do this work. Only He can change you.

The problem is we don’t like the work to continue. There comes a point for each Christian where we draw the line. THIS is as far as I am willing to go.

What is that line for you? Because Jesus WILL work until you stop it.

The Confidence in the Work (v.6)

This is the great swivel point of the work that God is doing. Are we confident in the work? More specifically, are we confident in HOW He works?

We may not like what He is doing. It may make us uncomfortable. But you can be sure that His work is best.

Mark 7 (Jesus heals a deaf and dumb man, and the people were so amazed that they said, “He hath done all things well.”)

That should be the heart cry of the believer. Have confidence in what Jesus is doing IN you. Pointing out sin, showing you a failure, leading you to do something. Because He hath done all things well.

Mark 6:1-6 (Jesus comes to his own country)

What the people saw as a mighty work was God‘s minimum work.

The Completion of the Work (v.6)

If you allow Jesus to work His way in you, He will continue it until one day you are with Him. Face to face. All trouble will vanish, and we will be with Him.

The interesting thing is, as you allow Him to work IN you, you will work more and more FOR Him.

Working FOR Jesus is simply being faithful to Him and obeying Him. And one day we will stand before Him and He will ask us what we did for Him.

The only thing that you and I will have to show for Him, what what we allowed Him to do IN an THROUGH us.