Equipped for Service: He Wants The Works

Introduction

The Holy Spirit is challenging us today, and is saying, “I WANT THE WORKS”! 

We Need to Work the Works

 Frankly, the word “WORK” has become a word of stumbling and offense to some in and outside of the church. 

To be honest, we have trouble WORKING in general. We are watching a generation become adults that don’t want to work! We want what work can bring, but we don’t want to work. We want a nice house; but no one wants to work for it! 

But in the words of the great Nick Saban, “it doesn’t matter what we want, what matters is what are we willing to do to attain what we want.”

ARE WE WILLING TO WORK?  

For this conversation, because works is so broad and refers to acts, deeds, or accomplishments, allow me to clarify and qualify this idea of work the works! 

Generally speaking, there are: 

Works of the Flesh

Works of the Law

Works of GOD 

In the text, Jesus says I must work the Works of Him! 

Works of the Flesh Example
Galatians 5:19 (NKJV)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

Works of the Law Example:  

Galatians 2:16 (NKJV)

16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Works of God 

John 9:3 (NKJV)

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

John 14:12 (NKJV)

12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Him Who Sent Me

Shifting to become an apostolic church once again.  There are several characteristics of being an apostolic church, but the main one is that God Saved US to Send US! 

John 20:21 (NKJV)

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

The church that Jesus founded was an apostolic church; we turned it into a denomination!  But the church was originally intended to be Apostolic, a moving, breathing, growing entity that functions under the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Not a lifeless huddle of scared believers, but a mission-centered organization operating in the power and the influence of the Holy Ghost!

We may not be going to other countries, and we may not be going to other cities, but we are SENT into every context that God allows us in.  We are on a mission; we are not drifting out on life’s oceans, we have a purpose and a mission.  If we connect with the Master of the Sea, He can help us understand what we have been SENT to accomplish! 

While it is Day

The worst situation in the world is to NOT know you are on the clock.  There is a time limit in which we have to work! Jesus said the daytime is the time of work. And eventually the night is coming in which no man can work! 

NOW is the acceptable year of the Lord

NOW is the time to WORK 

NOW is the time to be “about our Father’s business”!