They Worked

They Worked
THE RESURRECTED LIFE!
Terry R. Baughman

“And the apostles went out announcing the good news everywhere, as the Lord himself consistently worked with them, validating the message they preached with miracle-signs that accompanied them!” (Mark 16:20 TPT).

The resurrected life is not one of retirement, relaxation, and reticence; rather, it is a life of purpose, passion, and perseverance. The disciplined life of Christian living is work. Some may object to this declaration by saying, “No, it is not of works,” while quoting the Apostle Paul, “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” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJ). 

It is correct to say we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. However, good works are a natural outgrowth of the Spirit-filled life. Paul went on to say, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJ). While we rely solely on the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, the purpose for our salvation and redemption was that we might bear the good fruit of the Spirit, which is, “Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NKJ). 

When we go out in the power of the Spirit we are enabled to more effectively represent Jesus Christ in the world. God has assured us of His presence working with us! It becomes obvious that if He is working with us, we must also be working with Him!

The Scripture gives several examples of our involvement with God being action, effort, and work. Paul wrote, “Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9 NKJ). This passage in the KJV said that we are laborers together with God. 

Paul also said “As God’s servants, we prove ourselves authentic in every way. For example: We have great endurance in hardships and in persecutions. We don’t lose courage in a time of stress and calamity. We’ve been beaten many times, imprisoned, and found ourselves in the midst of riots. We’ve endured many troubles, had sleepless nights, and gone hungry. We have proved ourselves by our lifestyles of purity, by our spiritual insights, by our patience, and by showing kindness, by the Spirit of holiness and by our uncritical love for you. We commend ourselves to you by our truthful teachings, by the power of God working through us, and with the mighty weapons of righteousness— a sword in one hand and a shield in the other” (2 Corinthians 6:4-7 TPT). It was never His intention for us to simply spend our days in fellowship enjoying the blessings of God, but to do the works that He has called us to do.

Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4 NKJ). As much as Jesus came with a purpose to fulfill the work of God, we also have been sent to complete His commission. Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21 NKJ). Christ’s expectation of every believer was that, “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NKJ).

The calling of God is to fulfill the works of ministry to which we have been assigned. Paul noted that there is in the church, “some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” and then explained their purpose was, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJ). It is not just ministers and leaders, but every believers’ responsibility to fulfill the work of ministry!

Paul instructed his son in the Gospel, “Be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5 NKJ). Whatever our calling, we are to complete the task, work to achieve our goals, and commit every success to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will work with us; we are co-workers with God! 
​
Theme passage:
“For although he was crucified as a ‘weakling,’ now he lives robed with God’s power. And we also are ‘weak ones’ in our co-crucifixion with him, but now we live in God’s triumphant power together with him” (2 Corinthians 13:4 TPT).