The Miracle of Good Works: Part 3

My home church, Grace Bible Church, offered me the privilege of speaking at the ladies Christmas Tea this year. Here are my notes from my 20 minutes talk to the room of 40+ women, representing

several churches.

This is part three. Be sure to read parts part 1 & part 2 also.

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The Miracle of Good Works: Part Three

Just as Jesus had works to do for God the Father while He walked on this earth, so we also have works to do for God while we are still living here.

When Isaiah saw Almighty God on His throne, he asked God to send him into his work.

Ephesians 3:11 says we have a boldness to enter into the throne room of God. That’s where our marching orders come from. And the more we come to the throne room of God—the more we will see God and His glorious works on earth. And apart from the times of direct Divine interventions, God glorious works get done through His church. That’s us! What a privilege!

Do you know that just coming to a Sunday service is exercising your faith? Why else would you come to hear a man speak for an hour from this book? You believe in the God who wrote it, that’s the why.

James 1:27 says pure and undefiled religion before God is to visit widows and orphans and keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Consider this--women who have unsaved husbands can be seen as widows in the church, and children who are the only Christians in their homes can be seen as orphans. They need your help, your strength, your Spiritual guidance?

The Bible is our key to the mind of God—If you want to make a list of what constitutes good works in the name of God—read the Bible.

Ephesians 2:10 implies God has different good works for everyone to do. Don’t get hung up on someone else’s service to God. Somethings God has given to me weren’t meant for you and things He’s given you weren’t meant for me. God is still the originator.

Corinthians says the body of Christ has different functions. I’m a Big Toe and you’re an Ear. I as a big toe can’t listen compassionately to the pain of others, but my work is to keep the body balanced and mobile. And no one walks on their ears.

The ears wear pretty jewelry, but piercing a big toe would be weird. The ear is out in the open and delicate, while the big toe gets shoved into stinky socks and slammed into furniture.

No matter our different works, our most important work is to be witnesses to Him. The Holy Spirit enables us to walk naturally as Christians. The good works will just happen as we live our lives in Jesus. That’s not something consciously done but unconsciously done.

Not everyone is suited for children’s church, nursery, teen groups, Senior services. Or you can’t possibly give any more then you’re already giving? You’re not able to visit homebound, or make telephone calls? But everyone can encourage those who can and do. Strengthen their ministry. Be a firm foundation of faith for them.

The first church in Acts 2 grew because the believers gathered together and rejoiced in their salvation. That’s all they did and God brought more people in.

Your presence where you gather for worship is a witness to everyone who drives by your church. Jesus said where two or three are gathered in My name, I am in their midst” Where you consistently gather, God will bring people, because He wants the unsaved saved.

Our good works originate in heaven—always remember that. God created us—that means He created our faith and good works. They’re His works to begin with—we just do them as they come to us. The more you do, the more will come. God knows your capacity and your limits. Don’t worry about the power, He is it. He empowers us to do all the things we need to do for Him.

Ask Him to fill you afresh every day to do all you can for His glory.

Whatever you do as a Christian woman to help build, strengthen, and encourage others is a good work. Whatever helps spread the gospel is a part of the greater work Jesus left for us to do. “Go therefore into all the world and present the gospel, making disciples.”

We’re familiar with Galatians 6:9 & 10. "And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those of the household of faith”

But there’s an added extreme to our commissioned works for God. We have the privilege of not only having Almighty God reveal His plans for us, He empowers us to do all He has planned for us. We don’t do it on our own strength, power, and resources. God supplies all of it. We’re just the head, hands, & feet that get it done.

Hebrews 12 teaches me to recognize the Author and Finisher of my faith. The one who commissioned me for it.

When the disciples came back rejoicing because they overpowered demons, Jesus said “Don’t rejoice over that, Rejoice your names are in the Book of Life” (Luke 10:20). Our boasting’s not in the work—but in the One for whom we work.

Paul, while shut up in prison was occupied with his major employment, his prayers.

He says in his 1 letter to the Corinthians “I work harder than any of them, though it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me” 1 Corinthians 15:10. 

If you can’t do something physically, prayer is the ultimate expression of faith. For no one can see your prayer. No one can quantify your prayer. No one can put a cost on your prayer. No one can steal your prayer. No one can destroy your prayer with hate, or material harm. No one can take the credit for your prayer. No one can speak the prayers God has given you to speak. 

Your faith is proven the greatest when you pray. If you can’t do anything else—prayer is your greatest work for you are seeking God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. He can work through your prayer of faith to do mighty things.

Conclude Repeat Ephesians 2:8-10

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

Ephesians 2:8-10 explicitly explains that if you’re not a born again believer in Christ Jesus—you have no good works to do for Him. You are saved by grace through faith, not of works. No good work is able to save anybody.

You cannot expect God to accept your work before you are born again into Christ Jesus by faith. You first have to come to God the Father believing Jesus took the wrath of God by His death on the cross for your sins.

And after we’re saved, let’s not approach doing good works as a duty—I have to do this because I’m a Christian—instead let us live as a Christian because it is the most ordinary thing we do as one in Christ Jesus. They originate with Him.

The good works are ready for us—the miracles of good works on earth for God our Father’s glory.

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The Miracle of Good Works: Part 2

My home church, Grace Bible Church, offered me the privilege of speaking at the ladies Christmas Tea this year. Here are my notes from my 20 minutes talk to the room of 40+ women, representing several churches.

This is part two. Be sure to read part 1 & part 3 also.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Miracle of Good Works: Part Two

I’m not only placed in the church body, I’m in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. I’m walking on the earth but I’m no longer attached to it. The material doesn’t hold the same appeal any more—but the Spiritual things of God draw me toward Him and His glory.

Do you ever think about the idea that everything that God does here on earth and in our lives is a miracle? We tend to put miracles into the status of Peter walking on water, Lazarus rising from the dead, fire coming down and consuming the sacrifice, or Jesus’ resurrection. Those are huge miracles. But to be truthful, because we’re so finite, we’re so small, we’re so incapable of living without God’s breath in our lungs, everything God does in and through us is a huge miracle.

Verse 10 says our good works were prepared beforehand. Our good works originate in heaven. God knows what He has planned for each and every one of His children. Psalms 139 says God has all our days fashioned for us---so that includes our good works.

“Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16.

Is there any human since Adam who is not part of God’s creation?

Since God created everything—He created the faith everyone has and He created the good works everyone does.

God says that if anyone gives someone a cup of cold water in His name, they are to be rewarded with high honors.

You’re familiar with Galatians 6:7 &8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

That goes along with the caution of Ephesians 2:9. “Lest anyone boast.” Anyone can do a good work, but the motive can be misused to satisfy the flesh.

There is a sore evil that many people have amassed good deeds thinking it pleased God. Sadly, when they stand before God, their good works will not pay their way into God’s heaven.

Adolf Hitler may have given someone who needed it a cup of cold water. Adolf Hitler, Sadam Husien, Osama Ben laden may have done an unselfish good work at some point in their lives.

It is something very hard to really grasp—but since God created everything, even the good works an unsaved person does is still a good work that God knew they were going to do. Many unbelievers do beneficial good works. Unfortunately, none are done for the glory of God. Not one of them brings God the glory and honor He deserves.

Billionaires give huge amounts of money to charities but it is not recorded in God’s name. Great people have worked to obtain world peace but it was never for the glory of God. Their good work is wasted effort for their eternity, although it also was there beforehand, created in heaven.

Since they also are a part of God’s creation—God created in them the faith to believe in Him. They never came to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and wasted their God-given faith.

We born again Christians have a different agenda entirely. We have a heavenly account book for the works we do that bring honor and glory to God. Verse 10 says there are good works God created beforehand for Christians to walk in. We manifest them as we do the will of God.

And there is a big difference between our good works and the good works of an unbeliever. The qualifier between a Christian’s good works and an unsaved person’s good works in verse 8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.

Oswald Chambers says in the devotional My Utmost for His Highest that once we are saved in Christ Jesus, being a Christian should be automatic and doing good works should be as natural as breathing.

The fun part of our good works is with every work we do for God is a miracle done through us on earth! Miracles occur every time we do a good work that honors God and presents Him to the world because we’re bringing out of God’s storehouse in heaven the works that He created for us to do. They originated in heaven.

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God Shows No Partiality

Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality" Acts 10:34.

God created mankind; every nation, tribe, and people group.

The Gospel, the Good News of salvation, which tells of redemption through Jesus' death. burial and resurrection is for all peoples living all over the world. God shows no partiality.

I believe, because of Romans 1:20, that God will manifest Himself to even in the remotest areas of the world if a person will look at creation around them and think "There must be a Creator."

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" Romans 1:20.

Also because of Psalm 19

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge, There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" Psalm 19:1-4.

The amazing creation around us is witness to a Creator.

And because of Romans 2:11-16, where the remotest person who has never heard of Jesus, if they will listen to the moral conscious that God gives all people and consider the consequences of their sins and righteousness, I believe God will manifest Himself to that person somehow.

(Extra)

God has a sense of humor.

Acts 10:34 begins with the phrase "Then Peter opened his mouth".

If you've studied Peter, you know his habit of opening his mouth when he should have kept it shut. And we know God the Father cut him off once, (Mark 9:5-7), and Jesus even got on him for speaking before thinking, (Mark 8:33).

"All scripture is given by the inspiration of God....." 2 Timothy 3:16.

That means God is the one who said "Then Peter opened his mouth.."

If you know Peter, that's makes it funny

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The Distraction of the Beauty of Nature

This male Yellow-Shafted Northern Flicker (Woodpecker)

was on our lawn this morning for a few hours, pecking at the ground for insects.

You know how when you set your mind to read the Bible and pray earnestly, it is then that distractions suddenly appear. Even though the objects of the distractions may be beautiful in their own right, they are evil in the fact they steal you from your time with God.

This bird appeared just at that time in my Bible reading and prayers. I did stop my prayers to take several photos, and had to force myself to ignore him after that so as to spend the time talking to the Creator instead of admiring His creation.

A few verses came to mind as I ignored the bird.

"And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them: Matthew 13:4.

(the mustard seed) which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches"

Matthew 13:32.

"Professing to be wise, they became fool, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image like corruptible man---and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things"

Romans 1:22,23.

Even as beautiful as many birds are, in these verses, God, their Creator, says they are sometimes the means of Satan to take the truth of God from those seeking hope of salvation.

A bird can be a sore distraction and so easily steal the truth and glory of God away from a believer. How the more so from the hungry soul of a non-believer, seeking the truth and glory of God the Creator.

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