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Key Verse:
John 4:32-38 (English Standard Version)
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
33 So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’
38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Have you ever grown tired of doing good? We read in John 4 that Jesus was faint, so the disciples went to purchase food. When they returned, they were astonished at the change in Him. “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” From this passage with its images, we may discover several laws of spiritual work.
I. SPIRITUAL WORK IS REFRESHING TO THE SOUL AND THE BODY.
John 4:34
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
A. If we love spiritual work, it will kindle our souls.
The word “KINDLE” is defined as:
1. To build or fuel (a fire).
2. To set fire to; ignite.
3. To cause to glow; light up: “The sunset kindled the skies.”
II. THERE ARE SEASONS IN THE SPIRITUAL SPHERE, OF SOWING AND REAPING, JUST AS IN FARMING.
John 4:35
Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
A. In order to reap A harvest Christians must be patient when sowing.
James 5:7
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
B. Satan often steals blessings by getting people impatient. Impatience can cause us to step out of God’s Will and Timing for our lives.B. We must also be persistent and not give up when sowing!
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
III. SPIRITUAL WORK LINKS THE WORKERS IN UNITY.
John 4:36
Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
A. Where Satan likes to separate those out of the church, Christ is a God of UNITY. He wants us to work in unison.
Genesis 2:18
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
B. Christians and churches are NOT in competition with one another. Rather we are all linked by God. Christians are all on the same team.
C. When we help one another, we should see it as helping Christ. He is our High Priest and we are all under Him.
Hebrews 5:10
being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
IV. SPIRITUAL WORK HAS RICH REWARDS.
John 4:36-38 36
Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
A. Unlike worldly jobs, working for Christ has eternal rewards.
B. Working for God brings many rewards now and in His Kingdom to come.
Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
C. One of the rewards we receive from spiritual work is the actual work itself!
V. GOD WILL TEST EVERY WORK.
Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
A. God knows our hearts and our motives!
1 Corinthians 3:13
each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
Conclusion:
God will reward all we do, and all we try to do, and all we wish to do.So why not ask Him for something to do today?