"WHAT SHALL WE DO TO WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?"
“WHAT SHALL WE DO TO WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?
Sunday, August 15, 2015, the Year of our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
The overcoming saints could tell you that if they had given up when overwhelmed with difficulties and disappointments, they would have been utterly ruined for ever. But now they are at rest and at peace in the bosom of Christ.
Unable to accept Christ’s teaching, many disciples went back and walked with him no more.
John 6:66: “From that time many of Jesus’ disciples went back, and walked no more with Him. Then said Jesus to the twelve, “Will you also go away?”
(Isn’t it amazing that, once Jesus begins to teach about NT fellowship with Himself… in and through His Corporate Body (eating His flesh and drinking His blood)… that many of His disciples draw back and walk no more with Him, because they realize they can no longer approach Him with a “what’s in it for me?”- mentality? They realize it is no longer just about “me and the Lord”; but also laying down their lives for one another. And this occurs in John 6:66? 666 ~ the same mark received by the harlot church in the wilderness in Rev. 13, distinguishing them from the Overcomers who stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion?? The Overcomers are dead-to-self! The works of men glorify men, the works of God glorify the Lamb:-) There is an element of “being under the Law of Moses” which is being missed by the current “Grace Movement”… “uncircumcision” (Gal. 5:6). It believes that, because we are no longer under the letter of the written word of God, we are simply free to "love God, and do WHATEVER"; which translates into: “Freedom to ‘love God’ and SERVE OURSELVES.” This is a perversion of the true Grace of Christ, just like the Book of Jude describes. Blessings, Pastor Carolyn. ~John & Kelly Sielski)
What did Jesus say to these men that caused them to turn away from him and lose the gift of eternal life?
John 6:28: The people said to Him, what shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent.”… (vs. 35) “I am the bread of life; he that comes to me shall never hunger; and the that believes on me shall never thirst. But I say to you that you also have seen me, and believe not…(Vs.53) Except you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoso eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and Iw ill raise him up at the last day…”
Christ shows that only one of four sorts of hearers was actually saved. This is pictured by his account of the final judgment, for those who professed to have believed the gospel are revealed as complaining of their disappointments. (Mt. 25:44-46).
Beware of being deceived. False teachers and wolves abound. Some may even perform duties, but compare themselves with others and judge themselves to be much better. If we gloat or gossip when a Christian falls or fails, we judge ourselves to be better than our brother or sister in Christ. We also heap judgment on ourselves.
1 John 5:16: “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not to death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin to death; I do not say that he shall pray for it.”
This does not mean that you talk about the brother in sin, judge him, or gossip about the sin. It clearly states we are to pray for Him.
I almost didn’t use this verse because of the lack of clear revelation of what determines a sin to death. Willful rejection of the witness of God and open-eyed apostasy from Christ, if persisted in will carry the offender over the line beyond which repentance and therefore forgiveness is impossible.
We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God and except for the Blood of Jesus and His mercy and grace, we would all be lost. The gross offenders of 1 Corinthians 5 continued to be the object of the prayers of the congregation. Even the one who was delivered over to Satan was done so that His soul might be saved. I believe the Apostle is saying, “I cannot say how you should pray for such a one.” He is not telling us to not pray, but saying even he does not know how to pray.
In my lifetime, I have never knowingly met someone who has committed a sin unto death. I do believe of such a sin because the Word says it is so.
Without receiving Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are at enmity with God and in a state of apostasy. The healthy do not need a doctor. Only the sick come for healing.
If we have faith in Christ, all that follows is eternal praise and thanksgiving.
Consider the love of Christ inviting us to come to him for life, deliverance, mercy grace, peace and eternal salvation. Jesus continually stands before sinners welcoming them to come to him. Look to me and be saved. Come to me and I will give rest to your souls. Eternity lies at your door.
Proverbs 1: 20-24: (Vs. 23) “Turn at my reproof; behold I will pour out My Spirit to you; I will make known my worlds to you.”
The love of God revealed in Christ Jesus is overflowing with mercy, compassion and grace that move Jesus to call us to himself. Those who treat with contempt Christ’s wonderful love and grace are like the people who wanted to know how to work the works of God, but would not receive Jesus Christ as the gift of eternal life.
Christ is ready to receive the worst of sinners who come to him for salvation. All three persons of the Godhead bear testimony to this. The Lord Christ in his person is the representation of the Father, in his office as mediator, in what he did on earth, in what he now does in heaven---all proclaims the same truth.
One day the preachers of the gospel will testify against the unbelievers of all to whom the gospel was preached but who did not come to Christ (Jude 14-15). This unbelief shows contempt of the wisdom of God, denies his truth or faithfulness and discredits Christ.
Jesus is able to save us as well as receive us. Christ can only save those who have repented. If he saved the impenitent sinners, he would deny himself and act contrary to his Word and destroy his own glory.
Christ is able to save all them who come to God by Him. Christ’s power to save those that respond to his call is sovereign and almighty. Nothing and no one can resist it. All things in heaven and earth are committed to him. All power is his, and he will use it to save infallibly all who come to God by him.
God who is infinitely wise and glorious has revealed his holiness, mercy, love , grace, goodness, righteousness, wisdom and power in Christ; and his purpose to save all who believe in him.
Whoever comes to Christ by faith because the glory of God is revealed in him truly gives to God the glory which is to be revealed in his creatures.
There is more glory given to God in coming to Christ by faith, than in keeping the whole law, because Christ has gloriously fulfilled the law.
This message is strong today because there are many deceivers turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The easy believism grace of living in sin is another gospel.
Jesus prayed that we might behold his glory (Jn. 17:24). Christ lives in us. We are one body. Why would anyone want to hurt his own body? Why would one Christian purposely mistreat or be mean to another Christian?
The glories of this world are perishable trifles compared to the riches of the glory of Jesus Christ on earth as it is in Heaven.
“How can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” Impenitent unbelievers under the preaching of the gospel are the most ungrateful of God’s creatures. “Behold you despisers, wonder and perish.” (Acts 13:41).
The sin of the devil lay in his malice and opposition to knowledge above that which man was given in this world. Man, therefore, must sin in some way above that sin of the devil or God would not give him his eternal portion with the devil and his angels. This sin is unbelief.
So, like the people who came to Jesus and asked, “What shall we do to do the works of God.” What shall be required of us?
“Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness. But exhort one another daily, while it is called “today”, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” “Now is the day of salvation.” “Now, at this moment, grace is offered to you.”
Others have had this day and have missed their opportunity.
The people in our story of John 6 who “walked with Jesus no more” did not receive the gift of eternal life. “Many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear it?
6:68: “Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that You are that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Pastor Stephen George was at the conference this year. He told me that he believes we are coming to the time of the fullness of the Gentiles. Then the grace of the Holy Spirit will again shift to Israel and all Israel will be saved (Ro. 11:25).
I know a banquet table is set week after week for the Gentiles of this nation, and many have turned the Word of God into lasciviousness, denying the word of the Lord which endures forever. (1 Pet. 1:28).
There is nothing in the world apart from Christ to bring comfort, joy and peace to your soul.
Simon Magus (the magician) heard the Word, and believed as well as he could. Herod heard John the Baptist, and did many things gladly. All kinds of hypocrites, when convicted of sin, do many duties, and abstain from many sins. Yet, notwithstanding all this, they may still perish for ever.
We receive Christ by faith. Jesus said, “This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he sent.” (John 6:29).
This faith is accompanied with a spiritual change in the soul. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5;17).
I know I am preaching this message to Godly Christians who have walked with the Lord most of their lives. However, the signs of the times speak clearly that there is a great falling away. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being watered down. An entire generation has no fear of God or love of God. The child who honors and respects their parents both loves and fears them. Not to their harm, but for their good.
When the disciples had been fishing all night and had caught nothing (Luke 5: 3-4), Christ told them to go out and try again. Peter makes an excuse but does what Christ commands, and as a result caught an astonishing catch of fish. So try again. Make every effort once again. You do not know what success he may give you.
It is not our failure in trying, but our willingness to give up trying that will be our ruin. The woman of Canaan in her cries to Christ for mercy persisted though rebuffed three times (Matt. 15:22-28). First, Christ did not respond to her cries. Then his disciples desire that he would send her away. Then Jesus gave two reasons why he should not answer her request. But still she does not give up. She goes on crying for mercy. Had she given up she would never have had the answer to her prayer.
People of God if you do not give up, you will win through in the end. You do not know when God will come to you with his grace. You do not know when Jesus will reveal his love to you as he did to the poor woman in spite of his earlier rebuff.
Take hold of this promise: “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (Prov. 8:34). “He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.” (Hos. 6:3).
A church group preached Christ among some of the Indians, but they did not tell them of his cross and sufferings. They told the Indians only of Christ’s present glory and power. In this way they pretended to win them over to faith in Christ. But by hiding from them what might discourage them, they preached a false Christ. The church of the 21st century has been doing the same thing. The teaching of a false Christ compromises lusts and sins.
2 Cor. 6: 16-18: “What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. And will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, say the Lord Almighty.”
Only in Christ are true pleasures found. A few moments with Christ are to be preferred to an eternity with the pleasures of the world.
Among the church universal are many false and corrupt hypocrites. The tares look very much like the wheat. Some have un-mortified pride, covetousness, jealousy, unchristian behavior, lusts, etc. Many who are walking in the faith are wounded and others are discouraged.
We are not called to serve Christ only if all Christians behave perfectly or are all better than me. We are to put our faith in the Word of God, and the Blood of Jesus Christ.
In times of weakness, the carnal believers will pile on their perceived victim. Those Christians who know the love of Christ would never pile on another Christian in a time of battle or distress. Quite the contrary, true Christians will come to the aid of one another in the midst of distresses.
“My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”(1 Cor. 12: 9-10).
The present assignment against the Body of Christ is to wear out the saints. Many are being tested regarding selfish desires and agendas. “It is all about me and mine” will be laid on the altar of fire. The only thing left will be what is about the Lord Jesus Christ.
I minister to precious saints who would be overwhelmed with difficulties and disappointments, if there was no one to lift up their arms.
I have had an interesting ministry and calling. I read something Rush Limbaugh wrote this week that according to his critics they label him as either insignificant, irrelevant, losing sponsors, etc., but then they turn around and blame him for being the primary influence in the present political theater. (not an exact quote- paraphrased).
I was amused because this is the testimony of anyone who speaks truth. One day we are down and everyone is piling on. The next day we are on top of the mountain. I treat both as equals and give place to neither. When we are on the mountain, we are targets. When we are in the bottom of the dung heap trying to dig out, someone shovels looking down on us. Let us pray for them, for either way it is a sin.
It is a sin that is rampant in the churches and must be repented of.
“If the Lord had not been on our side, when men rose up against us; then they had swallowed us up alive” (Ps. 124)
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V.
I entered into the labors of John Owen – the Glory of Christ. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. Owen. (1616-1683).