22 Jul Grace-Enabled Diligence
Deacon Hui Zhen - 11 December 2014
True Gospel Man, The Wise Builder, The Gospel-Driven Living
A true gospel man knows that the reason why Jesus gave the sermon on the mount is not to force upon us a certain code of conducts that believers should adhere too. Instead, he knows that God wants us to restore the original love with God in Christ, one that is grounded in love, and thus fearless. A gospel man knows that he is called by the gospel not because of his esteemed conditions but purely the grace and sovereignty of Lord, despite his weaknesses and ordinary conditions. Because of the irrevocable love of God, he will want to face the Lord in all things and in all times, and his focus will gradually be shifted from the earthly matters to the matters concerning the kingdom of God, the spiritual matters. No one can walk in this journey of faith without confirming what God has done in her life, and how faithfully God has led her through all this while. If the gospel we believe in is true and from God, He will prove Himself to be true - our eyes will be able to see the evidences of His sovereign leading in our lives if we live in obedience to God - for the fruits of the Spirit will emerge and blossom in our lives, inside out. Test and confirm if you have been walking closely with God today. One who is walking closely and needing Lord at all times will delight herself in prayers in all things and in all times, only want to hear from God alone. The set apart life she leads will lead to beautiful spiritual fruits developing in her life, manifesting the glory of God through all her conditions.
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Grace and Grace-enabled hard work
- <1 Cor 15:10>: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Grace has effect >>> work hard
- Grace and hard work not mutually exclusive.
<2 Th 3> 6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
Man is not created to be idle, but with a purpose.
- PURPOSE.
- “Idle men tempt the devil to tempt them.” – Charles Spurgeon
- “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.”
However, the Fall distorts our purpose and ways of working hard.
- Sloth, and an attitude of reaping without sowing.
- No desire to improve, or learn.
- Easily discouraged and give up.
- Habits that lack self-discipline.
- Burn out easily when not relying on God.
- Toil for the wrong motivations.
- Busy till drift from God.
We need healing in our labor/no labor.
- See the meaning to our hard work.
- Working hard is Christian virtue.
- Enjoy the process of working hard.
- In the end, God is looking not at the outcomes of our hard work, but at how faithful we are in using His gracious gifts.
<1 Cor 15:10>: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
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