Laboring Together for God

My family attended Sunday morning service. The pastor was talking about Paul and the Corinthian church. The Corinthian church was practicing  partially, carnality etc. So they group themselves and said, ”We are of Apolos.” The others of Paul. They forgot one thing. And so Paul wrote to them reminding them of God. I verse 6 it says, “I have planted, Apolos watered:but God gave the increase.” He (Paul) reminded the Corinthian church that God, and only God can make every living grow and multiply, like being successful. Paul emphasized that the Lord Jesus Christ should be the sol center of all. It was illustrated like this, Paul preached the Gospel, and many was converted, Apolos became their pastor and God gave the increase. Paul charged the church of Corinthians  not to group themselves and pledge loyalty  to Apolos nor Paul. To whom shall be the praises be given? Who is worthy of all the praises, loyalty  and recognition? Only to God, for He alone can give the increase and success. And in verse six we will see:

1.  The truth about working hard and success. v6

  Or hard work and success. Paul planted, Apolos watered that is hard work. Preaching the Gospel is not an easy task. To face danger and difficulty is not a walk in the park. To conquer fear and shyness and to speak against the workers of iniquities is not an easy thing to do. Paul preached, Apolos pastored that’s hard work. Diligence and patience doesn’t guarantee success, the Bible says, “God gave the increase.” God is the giver of success. Yes, we need to work hard, but we must believe that only God can give success.  Let’s not make work an excuse to God. We should thank God because we are still here; alive and with our family. We are successful because God gave it to us        

2.  The truth about recognition and praise verse 7

   To whom shall be recognition and all praises be given? Who shall be worthy to receive it? Only God, the only One worthy to receive all recognition and praises! Every aspects and works in our lives, we give it all back to God the praises and recognition saying, “ God be willing, its God’s will.” The question is, does God needed our help? No. Can God plant the seeds? Yes. Can God watered the seeds? Yes again. Have we forgotten that before man was created all the living things, plants and trees to be specific, were created first? God doesn’t need our help. The only thing why God made us stewards; is for us to learn to obey Him. When we obey God that’s the time that God will pour His abundant blessings for us.

3.  The truth about efforts and rewards. V9

We all have different talents and give different efforts. But the Bible said that we will receive rewards according to our own, individual efforts. Different preparations, different  privilages ,  different talents, different efforts. Everyone one of us is different. But our God is a just and fair God and He will give us rewards according to our efforts. We will be treated unequal because we are all different. In verse 9, we are laborers with God, we are God’s husbandry, we are God’s building. We are the temple of God and God doesn’t resides in a dirty temple. God is holy, we must be holy. It doesn’t mean that those who fell will be discriminated. The Bible also said that those who are still standing, beware or you might fall. Also.

A.  God”s work

  It is the most important of all. Why? God gave His Son to die for it.

B.  Only God can increase His work.

C. God’s work has limited time.

D.  God’s work have its own standards.

   One example of this is a girl possessed with(divination) demons. She followed Paul and his companions everywhere they go proclaiming that they teach the way of salvation. That’s everyday! What did Apostle Paul do? He rebuked the demon and the demon left. Why did Paul rebuked the girl? Is it the truth? Can it be of help?  The answer is NO! Why? God doesn’t compromise to the workers of iniquity like the demons. Yes, even if we see it that it will be of use for God’s work. IT IS NOT PART OF GOD’S WORK! It contradicts the teaching of the Bible: and the Bible is God’s word. Some people may say that even if it is from the devil, if it can help in the work of God, I will accept it. THAT IS WRONG! Remember the words of the devil when he tempted the Lord Jesus Christ, if thou bow down and worship me, all this and the riches of this world, I will give it to you. What did Jesus did, He refused! If the Lord Jesus refused it, we can say it is not biblical; it is not God’s doctrine. God is the Lawgiver: the church executes the law.

E. God’s work is not done by one person.

Every member of the church must join hand in hand to do God’s work, especially in prayer. If we have much money, we have financial power. If we have many members in the church we have, manpower. This two power doesn’t affect satan at all. But….if we join together in prayer, satan will tremble in fear because we will have God’s power!

F.   God’s work was given to the church.

      The church, as whole, do the work of God. Is the church a blessing to you? We must love the church because each of us received God’s blessings in our lives, through the church.

G.       God’s work needs our capacity.

The church is composed of different individual having different talents and capacity. Why don’t we use them in God’s work? Anything that you give or use in the name of God or God’s work will not return empty. A God- centered family will live happily. The Bible also said that without the shedding of the blood: the people perish.

H. God’s work needs a right heart.

Even if we use our talents and all our might, without a right heart it is not part of God’s work. We must have a humble heart.

This was taken from the preaching of God’s word through His servant Rev. Joey Conui III dated May 29, 2016.

 If there’s an error please call my attention. I stand corrected. 

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