The Labor of Love
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Jan 25, 2020
- 10 min read
Jesus said in Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
In another passage He spoke a parable: Matthew 9:37 Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
I’ve heard it said before, “everyone wants to be a Christian, but not very many of these want to serve Christ.” Sad to say, this appears to be very true. The bible is filled with the word “works”. The unfortunate thing is that this word refers to many different types of “works” as found in context pertaining to the many different subjects in which it appears in the bible.
Thus, most people who call themselves “Christians” seem to be afraid of the word “works”.
They are quick to label themselves with the name of Christ, quoting a few scriptures (that they do not really even understand), and then discount God’s Holy Word by basing everything on those two or three lines. Well, here are a couple more that are interesting…
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
So, what are we saying here? Let’s clear the air with what we are not saying first… what we are not saying is that any man or woman could ever perform any work, not ordained of God, to earn salvation in His sight. Remember, our ways are not His ways. If we were to do this thing our way, through our works or ‘methods’ we would get not get far.
If we are saved, it is by God’s grace that we are saved. None of us had the power within us, in and of our own selves, to save anyone from hell fire. The power to do this is a gift of God! He came to this earth as God, formed in the fashion as a son of man to die a gruesome death, the perfect sacrifice! We have or had nothing perfect in this earth that we could even use to offer as a sacrifice that would be pleasing to God because the earth and everything herein became corrupt when Adam and Eve fell into sin. The dust of the earth became corrupt (Adam), and therefore everything that is part of it became impure.
Without God’s plan of salvation, found within the New Testament covenant that Jesus gave
His life for, man simply could not be saved from the second death.
Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Amen? Let’s not stop reading there here though:
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Did you know?
1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Do you think that these things were said in vain? God forbid! What is Paul telling us here? What “labour” is he talking about? What kind of works??? Jesus has the answer for us here:
John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed.
What “meat is Jesus talking about here? Did you know that, in the old testament, a “meat offering” usually consisted of some type of bread?
Jesus said here, John 6:48-51 I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Beware though: Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
2 Corinthians 5:6-11 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Just what are we laboring for that we might be found acceptable of Him? The answer is simple: obedience. In being obedient, we cease from our own works, and begin to perform the works that He has commanded of us instead. Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
Hebrews 4:1-11 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Remember our opening scriptures?
Matthew 9:37 Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into His vineyard.
John 15:1-4 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
This is the same thing that we were saying earlier; how that we can do nothing (certainly not God’s works) without God, but that we must perform the works that God has ordained of us (by His power bestowed upon us), to be found pleasing in His sight.
This “power” is the power of God found within the anointing of the Holy Ghost, given to us at conversion.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name
The Lord referred to Himself as “The Ture Vine”. What does a vine do? It bears fruit, right? If we are in Christ, we would also be in The Vine then, correct?
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
So, to be clear here: our labor is to “abide” in “The Vine” – which happens to be Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Word. When we perform this labor, it will produce fruit. Jesus said that God is glorified when we bear “much” fruit. So, what type of fruit does The Vine of Christ bear?
Romans 6:19-23 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are His disciples IF we bear “good” fruit. If we name the name of Christ, we will bear fruit. The question is “good” or “evil” fruit? Our righteousness or God’s righteousness? Our works to gain our righteousness, or God given works to obtain His righteousness?
Matthew 7:17-20 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
What shall we do then?
Matthew 12:23 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Examples of Evil Fruit
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Concerning these: Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Examples of Good Fruit
Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Tying it all together
This message is titled “The Labor of Love”. At this point, you may be asking where “love” ties into the equation? Remember the obedience piece we were discussing close to open?
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. -Jesus
1 John 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Do you recall how Jesus said that IF we abide “in” the vine? Here is another version of that truth:
John 15:10-13 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ laid down His life for us, didn’t He? How will we lay down our life for our brothers and sisters in Christ? By being the same type of example that He was…
Colossians 3:2-4 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.
Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Father, please open the hearts and minds before it is too late for those that many be listening, but have not yet heard.
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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