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09/05/2023
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In honor of Labor Day 2023, I am sharing my message notes.
Keep up the Good Work!
Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September. The holiday honors the American labor movement and workers' contributions to their country's strength, prosperity, and well-being.
The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York City by the Central Labor Union. The holiday became a federal holiday in 1894 after President Grover Cleveland signed a law making it so.
Today, Labor Day is celebrated with parades, picnics, barbecues, and other events that bring people together to celebrate workers' contributions to American society. Many people also use the holiday to take a break from work and spend time with family and friends.
This statement reminds me of
Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
One of these days, we're going to get more than a day off!
Many people think work is a dirty four-letter word.
But it is vital to personal, financial, and spiritual growth.
The Bible teaches the value and benefits of work.
Work noun
1. Physical or mental exertion or effort directed to produce or accomplish something; labor; toil.
2. Productive or serviceable activity.
God himself did the first work recorded in the Bible.
From the beginning until now and forever, Scripture records that God is constantly exerting effort to produce or accomplish something for us!
Jesus probably worked in the carpentry shop of Joseph until He was about 30 years of age. Jesus was a carpenter. He knew what it was to work with His hands. Though Jesus worked with His hands, Jesus also worked with His heart.
You may remember that Jesus said in John 5:17, ''My father works hitherto (up to this time) and I work.''
Soon after the work of creation was done and God rested, the Bible tells us about what's called "the fall" of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
After His work of creation got spoiled by sin, the Bible teaches that God began to work again; He began His work of redemption. This plan of redemption took about 4,000 years of work! That's the timeframe between Adam and Jesus.
The biblical definition of redemption is the act of buying back something that was lost or sold, with the purpose of restoring it to its original state.
1 Peter 1:18-19
18 forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
We thank God for the wonderful work of our Savior on the cross of Calvary, where He shed His precious blood. Your salvation and my salvation have been provided in that "finished work" of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The phrase "finished work of Jesus" often refers to the idea that Jesus' death and resurrection accomplished everything necessary for salvation and that nothing more needs to be done. This idea is based on several passages in the New Testament, including:
- John 19:30, where Jesus says, "It is finished," just before he dies on the cross.
- Hebrews 9:12 states that Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
- Hebrews 10:10 states that we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
These passages emphasize that Jesus' death and resurrection accomplished everything necessary for salvation and that nothing more needs to be done.
According to the Bible, Jesus had to die to pay the penalty for our sins and reconcile us to God. The Bible teaches that all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The penalty for sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus, who was without sin, willingly took on the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross. His death paid the penalty for our sins and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive forgiveness for our sins and be made right with God.
So, God believes in work.
The Lord Jesus Christ believes in work. "Work" means exerting effort to produce or accomplish something and be of service.
Although Jesus finished the work required to save us, He is still working on other things. He's building a Church and preparing a place for us! He told His disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for us. And that He would return for us, that where He is, we could be also. He's not back; He may still be working on that place for us!
And just after His ascension, Mark 16.20 says the disciples went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
God is still working; remember what work is: effort directed to produce or accomplish something.
I Corinthians 3.9 says we are labourers together with God.
1 Corinthians 3:6-9
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam worked. Work was not a penalty for the fall. Work was not a curse of sin. Before sin invaded the Garden of Eden, the Bible tells us that Adam was placed in that beautiful garden and was there to tend it and care for it. So, work is not a result of the fall. There is something honorable, good, and right about work.
According to the Genesis creation account, God commanded Adam and Eve to work in the garden before sin entered the picture. Work has been built into human nature and expectation; God ordained it before sin entered into the world.
I repeat that work is not a punishment for human beings for their sin. It is a part of God's original design for human beings from the beginning; God endorses or sanctions "work."
Genesis 2:4-7
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:15
15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Hebrew definition as used here in Genesis two:
Dress – work, serve, till, labour, bring to pass, do service,
Hebrew definition as used here in Genesis two:
Keep – guard, preserve as from thorns, watch
Dictionary.com: Keep: manage, preserve, possess, care for
That sounds like work to me.
In the tenth chapter of Proverbs, Solomon gives children words of wisdom.
He warns of the dangers of the wrong use of money. But after warning of the wrong use of money, he goes on in this chapter and the next chapter to talk about the importance of hard work and working for your money.
Verse 4 says, ''He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.''
Parents should teach their kids verbally and by good example to give an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. They are to be faithful to their work. For example, if work begins at 8:00, they don't get there at 8:05. Get there at five till 8:00. If work is over at 4:00, they don't leave at 3:45. That means they stay until 4:05. I'm talking about the importance of being diligent and working hard.
As we provide for our children, we must never get to the point where we do all the work for them, and they don't learn the importance and value of work.
I heard about a couple of teenagers talking one day. One of them said, ''I'm worried to death about my parents. My dad, just slaves at his job, pays all the bills and sees that I never need anything. He is putting away money for my college education. My mom works day and night washing my clothes, preparing my meals, picking up after me, and taking care of me while I'm sick.''
The friend said, ''What are you so worried about?''
He said, ''I'm afraid they might try to escape.''
A good work ethic (set of values) will have a lot to do with their well-being and future enjoyment in life.
Work ethic refers to the values and principles guiding an individual's approach to work. It includes qualities like diligence, reliability, responsibility, and a commitment to excellence. A strong work ethic is often associated with success in the workplace and is highly valued by employers.
Developing a strong work ethic can involve setting goals, prioritizing tasks, managing time effectively, and taking initiative. It can also involve cultivating positive attitudes such as perseverance, self-discipline, and a willingness to learn and grow.
People who work hard and take advantage of the opportunity to work are the people who tend to do better in life.
Verse 5 of Proverbs 10 says, ''He that gathereth in summer is a wise son.'' You could paraphrase that - make hay while the sun shines. Then it says, ''But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.''
What does it mean to sleep in harvest? A harvest time is a time of limited opportunity. If you don't "make hay while the sun shines," you miss the opportunity.
Thomas Edison, the great inventor, said, ''Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.''
Most opportunities come to those who work.
He that sleepeth in the harvest…
Work, then sleep, instead of Sleep instead of Work.
If you learn to work hard, then your sleep becomes special.
Listen to Ecclesiastes 5.12. ''The sleep of a laboring man is sweet…''
Usually, when you have worked hard, your body needs sleep. When you have been productive in your activities and your job, you go to bed and sleep. Sleep, to that kind of person, is very, very sweet. And usually, there's no room for depression when you've contributed to the world around you.
I'm not talking about people who would work but can't.
I'm talking about people who can work but won't.
But I'm also not just talking about physical work.
I'm talking about physical, mental, and spiritual work.
Maybe you can't do physical work, but what about mental or spiritual?
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God gifts, anoints, appoints us for work, and then puts us in the right "garden."
Exodus 31:1-6 - When being directed by God to build the Tabernacle.
31 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;
This passage emphasizes that these craftspeople are not only skilled but also filled with the Spirit of God. This suggests that their work is not merely a matter of human skill but also a matter of divine inspiration and direction.
Once again, as the Apostle Paul said, "We are laborers together with God".
He's the Lord or the Boss and an excellent Manager whose pay is "out of this world!"
Colossians 3:23-24
23 and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Ephesians 6:5-8
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
If you're in the will of God, your secular job is as important as someone in the so-called "ministry." We are all in "ministry" every day. God can work through you to bless people and glorify Him wherever you "work." Your work matters. You're taking care, serving, guarding, managing, and being a good steward, dressing and keeping your 'garden" just like Adam.
When you stand before the Lord at the end of this life, will you be able to say, as Jesus did, that "I have finished the work you gave me?" And then hear Him say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord?"
Keep up the good work!
1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Hebrews 6:10
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
A reward is coming in the next life for the labor we've done here.
I don't think the "rest" we'll receive there is a ceasing to work, just a ceasing of the pain of toil and the stress involved in our work here.
I believe we are in training now to serve the Lord throughout eternity.
Matthew 25:23
23 His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Here, Work is hard but rewarding; there, Work will just be rewarding, just joyful, all positive, no negative.
Thou hast been faithful OVER a few things,
I will make you ruler over many things ----- we are stewards, taking care of things.
We don't just work to acquire things but also to take care of and maintain things.
Stewards, faithful over things! That's what we are.
Your everyday WORK honors God, rewards and promotes you, and carries on into the next life.
Keep up the good work!
Live Steaming
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