Work, Labor, Hope

Scripture Text 1 Thess. 1:2-4

Intro: Monday is Labor Day where we pay tribute to those who work for their families and our nation. What if we had a tribute to the contributions Christian workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of God’s Kingdom and others? A Christian contributing to the strength, prosperity and well-being of God’s Kingdom is a Christian that is stirred up and aroused to work and should be commended.  

I. The apostle Paul commends the Thessalonian church. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 ² We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, ³ remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

He commends them for their work of faith; labor of love and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

These three things stir and arouse a Christian to work for God's kingdom, their families and nation.

2. Work of Faith. [Rom. 10:17, James 2:20] Includes living a life of faith that Follows conversion. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Rom:10:17

Paul had brought them God’s word and many had responded. When the power of the Holy Spirit is working thru the word, a person is drawn to Jesus Christ and when he truly believes in Him by faith, he is filled with joy and is stirred to work and serve the Lord Jesus. The same is true with a body of believers, the church. For our faith to do any good, there must be a commitment to work Our faith.  James 2:20 (NKJV) But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

We are to seek God and believe His word, we are to believe his promises, believe he is able to do far and above anything, we could expect in the natural, because God is supernatural.  Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV) ³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Creation is one of God’s supernatural actions. He is able to do many supernatural things through our faith in Him. The stronger the belief of a Christian in Christ and His word, the stronger will be their work of faith for Him. Luke 17:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ When the apostles wanted more faith they said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." ⁶ So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. A strong faith stirs, arouses, activates, and energizes believers to work and carry out the mission of Christ. There must be a commitment. People in that day were being persecuted severely but they didn’t stop lifting up Jesus. There must be an understanding, not to give up, but Trust God in everything. Even, if it is not politically correct, and Even if others don’t see it.  Strong believers don’t give up their faith, to try and please people. We want to please God.  

3. Labor of Love. Faith without love is of no value. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
¹ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

When a person truly loves Christ, he is prompted and driven to labor for Christ. Love stirs the Christian to labor. The word "labor" means to toil; it’s a persistent work. Labor of love is work done by those who have experienced the forgiveness and love of Christ, Those who are always conscious that Christ has taken their sins upon Himself and borne the punishment for them. In response to Christ’s love for them, the believers are motivated to express God’s love to others.

Simply stated, labor of love is exercising the power of the Holy Spirit within to love God, self, and others just as Jesus has loved us. It is the wonderful love of Christ at work in the believer that moves him to love and serve others. The believer does all he can to please Christ and to fulfill the joy of Christ. This is what Paul meant when he said "the (love of Christ) constrains (makes) me" to serve Him. 2Cor.5:14

4. Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ stirs the church to endure in its work and labor. Our hope (confident expectation) is in the Lord Jesus Christ to return from Heaven to take us home to be with Him.

So we patiently wait for Him. Wait means more than doing nothing; it emphasizes an active attempt to live for His glory in the meantime. As we wait for Jesus we will continue our work of faith and our labor of love for Jesus by living for Him and serving others. We know that that Lord is going to transfer us into heaven at the end of this life and reward us according to our labor here on earth. Therefore, strong believers and churches are driven to endure in hope—to continue on in their difficult work of faith, labor of love and patient waiting for Christ. We love Him because He has first loved us and gave Himself for us.

Invitation: Have you put your faith in Jesus for your salvation? Have you experienced the love of Jesus? If not ask Jesus to forgive your sins and save you. Invite Him into your heart to take charge of your life. If you do have faith in Him, Are you working your faith? Are you laboring in love, serving Him out of your love for Him and others? Are you working patience into your life? If not, why not? We were saved to do works of righteousness and labor for His Kingdom. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The Holy Spirit and Salvation

Intro: This message concerns the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing lost men and women to Jesus Christ. Many think that the Holy Spirit does nothing in our lives until after we're saved. Yet, if it were not for the Holy spirit working in our lives before we accepted Christ, we would have never accepted Christ. What then is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of an unbeliever?

A. HE BRINGS CONVICTION. [John 16:7-11] [2 Cor. 4:4]

 1. He tells us of our sin

John 16:8-11 (NKJV) ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹ of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹ of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

The word "conviction" or "reprove" means to reveal, to bring to light, to expose.

2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the devil has blinded the spiritual eyes of an unbeliever. One of the primary things the dIevil does is to blind us about our sin. It's the Holy Spirit that opens our spiritual eyes, he brings to light our sin.

Notice vs8..." The Spirit will convict the world of sin." Do you see that the word"sin" singular, one? What one sin does the Holy Spirit expose in our life as he leads us to salvation?  Is it your worst sin? Is it adultery, drunkenness, which one? The one sin is the sin of unbelief. (vs 9) The Holy Spirit exposes our sin, the sin of unbelief.

But that’s not all the Holy Spirit does in the life of a lost person

 2. He tells us what we need to do.

When the Holy Spirit brings conviction, he brings to light our sin of unbelief and  summons us to repentance. He reveals to us our sin and then points us towards Jesus, towards repentance and faith in Him as our Savior. That desire in your heart to be saved was put there by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like a giant magnet that draws you to Christ. The desire to know God was put there by the Holy Spirit. Let me illustrate that by my own salvation. I was 37 years old. At that time in my life I knew I needed to get saved, I was under conviction. The Holy Spirit had exposed my sin of unbelief. One Monday night, I went to a friend's church where he was attending a revival. There I heard a message about God's three deadlines. At the end of the message I knew I needed to get saved and I responded to the invitation. That's how the Holy Spirit brings conviction. He exposes our sin and then points us towards the Savior. You can resist the Holy Spirit. That desire in your heart will not always be there. The more you say no the more your heart hardens. Your heart can become so hard and calloused that it no longer desires to be saved. That is why the Bible says that "today is the day of salvation."

But not only does the Holy Spirit bring conviction but also,

B. HE REGENERATES OUR SPIRIT. [Ephesians 2:1, John 3:3]

 1. Our Problem – We were spiritually dead in sin.

Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.

We all, before meeting Jesus were dead in our sins. Spiritually dead, possessing no spiritual life, no connection with God.

 2. Our Need. Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3 that he “must be born again or we can't see the Kingdom of God.” 

All unsaved people are spiritually dead and need to be born again.

 3. Our Solution. [Titus 3:5]

Titus 3:5… “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The word "renewing" means regeneration and it is actually a compound word that literally means "birth again" or as Jesus would say, "born again." It is the Holy Spirit that cleanses and causes the new birth. It is the Holy Spirit that renews, regenerates that which is spiritually dead. A spiritually dead person does not need to walk an isle and shake the preacher's hand. A spiritually dead person needs to repent and allow the spirit of the living God to give them new birth! It is through the power of the Holy Spirit and only through the power of the Holy Spirit that makes the spiritually dead come alive.

What does the Holy Spirit do in bringing unbelievers to Christ? First, He convicts, then He regenerates, and next,

C. HE SEALS OUR SALVATION. [Ephesians 1:13]

Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise

This one verse gives the entire process of salvation.  You heard the gospel, believed the gospel, and then were sealed by the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be sealed with the Holy Spirit?  Think of how a seal was used in the bible.  In Jeremiah 32, we find Jeremiah buying a piece of property.  The deed was signed and then sealed, making Jeremiah the new owner of that property. A seal was used in Bible times as proof of ownership and to provide security. The Holy Spirit operates in the same fashion.  The Holy Spirit living in your life is proof that you belong to God. With the blood of Christ he has bought you. He now owns you.  The Holy Spirit living in your life also provides protection and security.  It is impossible for you to ever lose your salvation because no one has the power to break God’s seal.

D. HE GUARANTEES OUR SALVATION. [Ephesians 1:14]

Ephesians 1:14… “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory”

The Holy Spirit in your life is God's down payment on your salvation.  The word  guarantee or deposit is an interesting word.  In Paul’s day it meant engagement ring.  A fitting illustration, don't you think?  Christ is the Bridegroom and His church is the Bride.  We know he will come and claim His bride because he has given us his Spirit as the engagement ring. It also means earnest, as in earnest money, like a down payment on a house. When you want to put an offer in on a house you are asked for some earnest money. It proves you are serious about your offer. If the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life is God’s earnest money, can you lose your salvation? If you were to lose your salvation then God would lose His down payment, He would lose the Holy Spirit that He has placed in you.

Wait a minute, the Holy Spirit is God, God can’t lose God. Exactly! The presence of the Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of salvation!

INVITATION: What is the Holy Spirit saying to you right now? Does the Spirit confirm with your spirit that you are saved? If not, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive and save you. Invite Him into your life right now, don't wait, you may not get another chance. If you are sure of your salvation, are you filled with the Spirit of God and being led by Him daily? If not, ask for forgiveness of that sin and surrender your life completely to Him today!

The Lord’s Supper

                                              

Titus 3:3-8

Intro: You can celebrate the Lord’s Supper at home today, remembering  the things God has done for you through the gift of His Son, our wonderful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Get you some grape juice and crackers or unleavened bread and after you read this, serve yourself remembering to thank Jesus Christ for the sacrifice of His body and blood for you!

I. Remember your former way of life before Christ. Titus 3:3 (NKJV) For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

 a. Without God, all of us were unbelievers enslaved to our passions and desires. Left alone, all human nature can only go from bad to worse. Instead of living for God, our lives were full of evil and envy before Christ. No matter how much “love” we tried to create without God, the overriding power of our sin produced a greater amount of hatred. Thus there was no hope for us apart from the intervention of the holy God, the Creator and Savior.

II. You were saved from your former way of life by God our Savior.  Titus 3:4-6 (NKJV)
⁴ But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

 a. All of our former ways changed when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared. His love is for all mankind as well as us! The contrast of our lives was startling. In verse 3 man is the actor, but in verses 4-7 man is merely the recipient, and God becomes the actor.

     What we could in no wise do for ourselves, God did for us through Jesus Christ His Son.

     God saved us in His kindness, love, and mercy. God in His grace saves those who believe, not because of any righteousness in them, but because of His mercy, love, and kindness. The three words, “kindness,” “love,” and “mercy” all represent aspects of God’s grace. Grace is the unmerited favor and mercy of God. The dual means of grace through which He accomplished this salvation are (1) the rebirth spoken of as a washing from the filth of our sins, past, present, and future. (2) We were renewed by the Holy Spirit ( 2 Cor. 5:17). The moment we believed in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord we were washed clean from the filth of our sins and we were given new birth and new life by the power of the Holy Spirit which God generously poured out on us Paul says in verse 6.

   III. You have been justified by God’s grace. Titus 3:7 (NKJV) that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

      a. From Adam we inherited a sinful nature (the tendency to sin), and we were under God’s wrath and due His punishment. Because Jesus took the punishment we deserved for sin and made us right before God, we can trade punishment for forgiveness. We have been declared not guilty. We can trade our sin for Jesus’ righteousness. When we do that, we know that we will inherit eternal life. Colossians 1:12 – 14 (NKJV) ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Eternal life began the moment we gave our life to Christ, but there is more to come! Our experience now is only a foretaste of what God has guaranteed to us in the future! Praise Him.

IV. You are to devote yourself to good works. Titus 3:8 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

  a. The things Paul wrote were true so we ought to constantly be reminded of them. Believers must show their beliefs through their conduct. We must be careful to do good deeds all the time, wherever we are. Sound doctrine must manifest itself in good works. Such teaching and action profits all believers as well as the unbelievers to whom the church witnesses.

Invitation: We are told in the bible to examine ourselves before we partake of the Lord’s Super. Allow the Holy Spirit to look into your heart and tell you whether you are a child of God or not. If God’s Spirit points out you are not His child, you need to correct that.  Do it now. Don’t wait! Simply confess your sins to Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive you and save you for Heaven when this life is over. We will all die and we must be prepared for our eternity.