In this session, we are looking at another fundamental of life in the spirit, work!

As we discuss the new life, being born again, alive in the spirit.  I have used the example of a caterpillar becoming a butterfly.  Similarly, when we are reborn, when we are born again to live abundantly, we, like the butterfly, will look totally different from a caterpillar.  What we eat, how we eat, how we look like, and now, even how we move.  Today, as we look at work, which is paralleled by how a butterfly moves, which is different from a caterpillar. 

Today, we will also look at more bible references, because in the session on fasting, we have learnt that instead of feeding on physical food, we should rather be more concerned of our feeding on the word of God.  Therefore, we should look at more bible references, especially when it directs us in this important area of work.

In John 6:29, Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Many of us believe in Jesus and God, but we are just waiting for our calling.  We keep asking God, “What is the work that you have called me to?”  But if we look carefully at this verse, the work of God is to believe in the one he has sent.  What are we to understand from this?

First, it is taught in James 2:17,

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Second, if we turn to John 14:12, Jesus later revealed, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Wow!  These are the very works that Jesus had been doing.  We are called to follow him.  We are called to imitate him.  We are called to follow what he had been teaching and what he had been doing, and how he had been going around.  From this passage, we understand the true meaning of making disciples, because Jesus calls us to follow him.  He calls us to imitate him, and that is reflected in what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”  Friends, when we think about work, have we ever wondered if what we are doing now is what Jesus was doing in his ministry?

Now, let us refer to Matthew 12: 49-50.

Pointing to his disciples, he (Jesus) said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Dear friends, do we consider ourselves to be in the family of Jesus Christ?  If we do, then take heed to this verse, that we should then be doing the will of our Father in heaven.

You may be asking at this point, “But how do we know the will of our Father in heaven?”  And this is a very big question that I am sure that many of us have been asking.

“I have been praying for it, I have been going around searching for it, I have even asked prophets for it!”

Dear friends, the secret is given to us in Romans 12:1-2.

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.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Dear friends, from these verses, it is clear how we are supposed to discern God’s will. 

First, we must be able to present ourselves to God as a living sacrifice, and say, “God, here I am!  Mold me!  Shape me!  Use me!  We have to present ourselves as a sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. 

Second, we are supposed to offer our bodies.  So dear friends, if you are struggling in this area, where you say that your body needs to sin, that is exactly the reason why you are not able to discern correctly, the will of God.   The steps have been shown clearly to us, so we must follow them carefully, that first we must offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.  And this is not overdoing it, only for the monks and nuns, but a reasonable worship expected from all believers. 

Third, we see that we are supposed to be born again!  We can no longer conform to the pattern of this world, but we should rather, be transformed by the renewing of our minds!  It is only after our minds have been renewed, and our life patterns now are different from that of the world, can we start to be able to test and approve what God’s will is. 

Fourth, after knowing his good, pleasing and perfect will, we still have to be convicted to do it.  The motivation for this whole transformation is found right at the beginning of these verses.  It says, “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy…”. Dear friends, God’s mercy, His love, His grace, is the compelling power to convict us to a commitment, that we are able to have that strength and grit to push through, to do and complete His will.

Dear friends, are you able to push through all these, to push through in the disciplines that God has laid out for us, to train ourselves and change and mold ourselves?  Then can we be able to be used by God.

When we look at work, dear friends, remember this—are we doing the works of Jesus Christ?  Are we discerning the will of our Father correctly?  And after knowing the will of our Father, are we able to go through, to do and finish it?

Finally, I want to talk about a more general work of God that was given to man, and this is found in Genesis 1:28.

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.”

Dear friends, you may know about being green and conserving our world and these come from the command to “fill the earth”.  When we refer to the King James Version, which carries a direct translation from Hebrew, “fill the earth” is actually a command to “replenish the earth”.  How close are we to using up the resources of the world without thought to the replenishment of them?  How many lifeforms on this planet have we killed off by our activities?  How many instances have we seen people leaving the world in a worse state than when they have found it?  Friends, God has given us a work, to preserve this world and to leave it a better place than when we have found it.  Are we able to replenish this Earth, and to use it in the wisdom that God has given us?

In conclusion, I will like to refer to John 15:7-11.  Jesus said these to his disciples and also to us.  “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Dear friends, God wants us to bear much fruit, and to be full of joy!  He has given us, in these verses, the keys to that, to lead a new, abundant life!  Let us be born again, put on our new selves, renew our minds, and lead transformed and empowered lives in Him!

When you pursue God and do His will, you will be blessed!

Let us pray.  Father God, we give you thanks, for you are such a great God.  In fact, in your word, you have given us the secrets to a living the abundant life that you have given to us!  Today, as we go through this session, as we go through your words, we know, Father God, we have to be born again!  Help us in our transformation!  Help us to be convicted by your love, to go through this no matter how difficult it might sound to us.  Father, we know that whatever you have lying install for us, will definitely be worth it.  Father, we just pray, empower us to lead this transformed life for your glory!

In the mighty name of our Lord Jesus we pray, Amen!