God At
Work
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A.
Perhaps you have been driving on the highway and seen an orange sign with the
words, “Workers Ahead.” Every Christian
should be a walking sign that says, “God at
work.”
1. People should be able to see God working
in our lives. I am not saying that we go
around bragging about ourselves or
promoting ourselves (See 2 Corinthians 4:5).
2. I am saying that people should be able
to see how our lives are being impacted by
our faith.
B. In
Philippians 2:12-16 Paul wrote, “So
then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out
your salvation with
fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in
you, both to will and to work for His good
pleasure. 14 Do all things without
grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove
yourselves to be blameless and innocent,
children of God above reproach in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you appear as lights in the
world, 16 holding fast the
word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to
glory because I did not run in vain nor
toil in vain.”
C.
There are three distinct ways God’s work should be evident in your life.
I. GOOD WORKS
A. When God is at work in your life the
evidence will be seen in your work.
B.
What did Paul mean when he wrote, “Work out your salvation with
fear and trembling?”
1. The verb “work out” is a mathematical
term meaning, “to solve an equation.” A
part of the equation of our
salvation is work.
2. Eternal life is not a wage. According
to Romans 6:23 it is a gift. “For the wages of
sin is death, but the free gift of
God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
3. Paul would even say, “By grace are
you saved through faith, it is the gift of God.
Not of works, lest any man should
boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
4. Does this mean that works play no
role in our salvation? Absolutely not!
a. In Ephesians 2:10 Paul went on to
write, “For we are His workmanship created
in Christ for good works.”
b. James wrote, “What use is it, my
brethren, if someone says he has faith but he
has no works? Can that faith
save him (James 2:14)?
B. We do not earn our salvation through
works but we demonstrate our salvation
through works.
1. Works are the evidence of the change
that has taken place in your life through
Christ.
2.
This is why your life is like a sign proclaiming, “God at work.”
C. God has a purpose for your life. He has
not saved you to do nothing. He does not
save you to come to church. He saves you
to change your life and fulfill His
purpose for you.
1. What is His purpose? Notice what
Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people for God’s own
possession, so that you may proclaim
the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His
marvelous light.”
2. When we proclaim the Gospel, meet the
needs of the poor, love mercy, seek
justice and walk humbly with God
(Micah 6:8) we are working out our salvation.
II. GOOD ATTITUDE
A. When God is at work our lives will be
characterized by the proper attitudes.
These
are mentioned at the end of verse 13 and
into verse 14.
B. An attitude of fear and trembling.
1. Our lives are to be characterized by
a profound reverence and respect for God
and His work.
2. Yes, Jesus is our friend. Yes, God
has adopted us as children and through the
intercession of the Holy Spirit we
have the ability to approach God as “Abba”
(Romans 8:15-16).
3. In our relationship with God we must
never forget that He is Holy and there is
something extremely profound about
our relationship with Him. We must never
lose our sense of wonder, awe,
reverence and respect.
C. Paul continued in verse 14, “Do all
things without grumbling or disputing.”
and complaining.
1. When he wrote to the Philippians Paul
told them to have the mind of Christ and
had quoted an early Christian hymn in verses
6-8, “He emptied Himself, taking
the form of a bond-servant, and
being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found
in appearance as a man, He humbled
Himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross.”
2. Did Jesus ever grumble or complain
about the sacrifice he made? In 1 Peter
2:21-23, Peter wrote, “or you have
been called for this purpose, since Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an
example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who
committed no sin, nor was any deceit
found in His mouth; 23 and while being
reviled, He did not revile in
return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept
entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
3. In 1 Corinthians 10:7-10, Paul
reminded Christians about the behavior of ancient
Israel in the wilderness. “Do not be
idolaters, as some of them were; as it is
written, “The people sat down to eat
and drink, and stood up to play.” 8 Nor let us
act immorally, as some of them did,
and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
9 Nor let us try the
Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the
serpents.”
a. Perhaps you say, “We are not
idolaters or immoral people like they were?”
b. Notice verse 10, “Nor grumble, as some of
them did, and were destroyed
by the destroyer.”
c. Israel ended up wandering in the
wilderness for 40 years because of their
grumbling. When we go around
grumbling and disputing we are letting others
know that God is not at work in
us.
III. GOOD EXAMPLE
A. With God at work in your life Paul says,
“you will prove yourselves to be blameless
and innocent, children of God above
reproach in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation, among whom you
appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast
the word of life” (Philippians 2:15-18).
B. The world needs the influence of people
in whom God is at work.
1. Jesus used the metaphor of light to
describe the influence He wanted His
disciples to have. In Matthew
5:14-16 he said, “You are the light of the world. A
city set on a hill cannot be hidden;
15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it
under a basket, but on the
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the
house. 16 Let your
light shine before men in such a way that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father
who is in heaven.”
2. When God is at work in your life you
will be, as Paul writes, “lights in the world.”
C. A young girl once told her preacher. “I
cannot stick it out any longer. I am the only
Christian in the factory where I work. I
get nothing but ridicule. It is more than I can
stand. I am going to quit.” The preacher said, “Where are lights placed?”
“What
has that to do with it?” the young
Christian asked him. The preacher said, “Answer
my question: Where are lights placed?” “I
suppose in dark places,” she replied.
“Yes, and that is why you have been put
in that factory where there is such spiritual
darkness and where there is no other
Christian to shine for the Lord. God needs
someone to shine his light there and you
are that person.”
D. Several years ago Tami and I were eating
at a Mexican Restaurant on a cold,
winter night. There were several inches
of snow on the ground but the restaurant
was full of people. Suddenly the
electricity went out. The restaurant was completely
dark. The manager had several small
flashlights but they were hardly enough for us
to see our meals. Suddenly, someone
pulled their pick-up truck up to the front of
the restaurant so their lights could
shine through the windows and illuminate the
room. I have eaten meals by candlelight
and camping lantern but that was the first
time I had ever eaten by the light of a
pick-up truck.
CONCLUSION:
A. A
familiar children’s song sums up this message.
“He’s still workin’ on me. To
make me what I ought to be.
It
t ook Him just a week to make the moon and the stars,
The sun and the Earth and Jupiter and
Mars.
How
loving and patient He must be. ‘Cause He’s still workin; on me.”
B. Is
God at work in your life “for His good pleasure?” If we may assist you in any
way
we invite you to come to Christ today. Hear the Work of God (Romans 10:17). Come
to faith (Hebrews 11:6). Repent of your
sins (Luke 13:3, 5). Confess your faith in
Christ (Matthew 10:32-33). Be baptized for
the remission of sins (Act 2:38). Live a
faithful Christian life (1 Corinthians
15:58).
