Work, Labor, Hope

Scripture Text 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

Intro: Tomorrow 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 serve and should be commended. 

I. The apostle Paul commends the Thessalonian church. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 (NKJV) 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.

Paul commends the church 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] When the power of the Holy Spirit is working thru the word, a person is drawn to Jesus Christ and when they truly believe in Him by faith, they are filled with joy and stirred to work and serve the Lord Jesus. 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 exceedingly, abundantly, above anything, we could ask or 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. 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 please people. We work 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 by the Holy Spirit 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.

Labor of love is exercising the power of the Holy Spirit within us 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Invitation: Have you put your faith in Jesus to work 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.

Growing in Your Relationship with the Lord!

If you desire growth in your relationship with Jesus Christ and Father God, you must make it your highest priority. A growing love relationship with God is central to everything else that happens in the Christian life. That’s why we were created, that’s why Jesus died on the cross for our sins and that’s why God is preparing an eternal home for us in heaven.

I. First step in growing closer to God. [Mk.12:30] “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength”

a. Do you love the Lord more with every passing day? Is God your greatest desire? Has He become your highest priority? Jesus says this is the most important thing of all for the Christian.

II. Must have a thirst and longing for God. 

Psalms 42:1-2 (NKJV) 1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. ² My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? The psalmist compared his yearning for the living God to the longing of a deer for water. The animal’s need for water to sustain its life forms a fitting metaphor for a soul’s need of the living God, the Source of spiritual life. Nothing else will satisfy that longing in your soul.

Psalms 143:6 (NKJV) I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Hands lifted in thirst for God's presence will result in answered prayer.

Psalms 130:6 (NKJV) My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning-- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

The Palmist compared this waiting of the watchman on the walls of the city for the first rays of light to his waiting for God to appear and fill his hungering soul.

III. Longing for God and His house will bring satisfaction. Psalms 84:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! ² My soul longs, yes, even faints [feeling weak] for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. When we meet in God's house as He ordained, we experience the blessings of a closeness to each other, with God and we experience the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We will surely be satisfied as we long for God and His house.

IV. Must desire God more than the things of earth. [Psalm 73:25]

Psalm 73:25 (NKJV)  Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

a. David said there is no other person nor thing in heaven or earth which I can seek or hope for that will bring me joy and contentment in my soul. I will accept no one else or thing as my God.

As you grow in closeness to God, you will find that everything here on earth will lose its luster and all you have worked so hard for will belong to someone else. You can take nothing with you when you leave this earth. If you have spent no time with God, you will have nothing of any eternal value.

These scriptures are the words of those who have lived a life full of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding walking in the ways of God yearning for Him day and night.

V. God's promise to those who seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV) You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

We will find Him when we sincerely seek Him with all our hearts, which means we seek Him with all our mind, soul, strength and emotions.

James 4:7-10 (NKJV) ⁷  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Listen to the Holy Spirit and you will hear the voice of God saying to you “Seek My face through the study of My word and prayer?” Then be obedient to Him and receive all that God has for you. God waits for you right now!

Conclusion: As we seek a closer relationship with God, His blessings and favor will be poured out on us. God seeks those who desire more of Him in their daily lives. He wants to lead, guide, and direct us along life's journey. He made us and He knows the way that brings His blessings into our lives. God wants to bless all people, but He can only work in the lives of those who desire Him to.

We have free wills with which to make decisions in life each day.

If you begin to desire God as these scriptures point out, you will discover something that will bless your life and give you a greater sense of the presence of God working in your life every day No matter what life may bring. God's Presence and victory is yours through Christ our Lord.

Invitation: Do you have a personal relationship with God? A personal relationship with God starts by confessing your sins to Jesus and asking Him to forgive your sins and then invite Him into your life to save you and lead, guide, and direct you each day. Be baptized and Jesus will help you in your daily life here on this earth. Then as you begin to grow in your relationship with God, you will receive blessings you could have never imagined!

In His Presence!

Scripture Text

Psalm 16:11

Intro: Many Christians spend each day merely surviving in their relationships and spiritual life. They go through the motions, but they've lost a deeper connection to God. Prayer is a great place to start to change our lives into what God desires for us.

1. In His presence we find the path of life. Psalm 16:11 (NKJV) ¹¹  You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

a. Even though this verse applies to Jesus, it also applies to God's elect ones. We need guidance and direction in our lives as we live each day here below until we reach our final destination which is our home in Heaven.

Our Father is the only One who can show us the right path to follow each day as we make our way to our eternal home. Only the Lord knows the beginning from the end. Psalm 139:16 (NLT)  God, You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. He created us and knows what is ahead for each of us. He has a path which is right and good for us all, and in Him we find the right path of life we should take. Bible reading, meditation and prayer puts us in the Father's presence. It connects us with the Father for the direction we need in this life.

2. In His presence there is fullness of joy. [Psalm 16:11]                                  a. As we spend quiet time in God's presence through bible reading, meditation and prayer, we will find fullness of joy. There is nothing on earth that can ever bring us the fullness of joy like time with the Father can. The joys we might find on the earth are temporary and soon fade away. God's joy is eternal. 1 Peter 1:7-9 (NKJV) Jesus Christ, ⁸  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹  receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. John 15:11 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. We can experience it no matter what our situation in life. Time in the Father's presence is something that fills every need we have and gives us fullness of joy that the world can't take away.

III. In His presence are pleasures forevermore. [Psalm 16:11] 

a. The more time we spend in the Father's presence, the more we experience pleasures that the world can not give. The pleasures of the world are temporary and can do nothing for our souls. The fleeting pleasures of the world always depend on good circumstances and situations. The pleasures that come from the Father satisfy our souls and are ours forevermore because they are supernatural spiritual pleasures such as peace, rest, joy, mercy, grace, forgiveness and love, heaven and all its glory.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) ⁶  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
As we put our faith in God and His word, we not only believe that God exists and is real, but we also believe that the Father rewards those who diligently seek Him through bible reading, meditation and communing with Him in prayer.

He rewards us with the correct way to go I life, fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore

Conclusion: As we connect with Him in prayer and ask for His purposes to be accomplished in us, life will take on a new meaning. Our lives will become vibrant, renewed and will be anything but mediocre and we will be full of the Father's blessings.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help each of us to take more time to be in Your presence and experience the reality of Your joy and pleasures that last forevermore.

And Father, for those who may not have experienced the joy of sins forgiven, may they right now, confess their sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive them and save them from an eternity in hell and give them the joy and pleasures of Your presence in their lives forevermore. We ask in the name and Spirit of Your Holy Son Jesus Christ. Amen!