Message #4466

[Kilika]

"I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." John 9:4 (KJB)

That's another verse to think about what it means. Literal or spiritual or both? We are to walk in the Spirit, right? So to me that means we are to look to the spiritual understanding. So the added question is when is it night that no man can work, and what is that work? Something tells me scripture isn't talking about a job at the local grocery!

And if you take that stance and then read those verses and apply it was though the "work" mentioned is in fact "the work of an evangelist", it takes on a whole new meaning.

It is my contention that the work is as the verse says, "working with your hands that thing which is good", so what is that thing which is good? And how can a person be a busybody by not holding down a literal job?

The primary thing Jesus tells us is to go into all the world and preach the gospel. THAT is the work I believe we are called to do. For those who for whatever reason are servants to men, they are called to act in a certain way towards their masters in the flesh, right? Masters are also called to act a certain way towards their servants, so Jesus does cover that situation, for those who are servants to men, but scripture says to not care for it, but that we do have the liberty to "use it rather". How one uses it is up to the person and God, which I believe is staying in the Spirit however it may be.

But when I read all those verses about work, to me, it keeps saying the same thing, that we are to "work with our hands", which is searching the scriptures, making full proof of our ministry, to do the "work of an evangelist".

And for those that may respond, "But if a person doesn't "work", then how can they survive or feed their families?" The best reply I have so far is I in turn ask them, How did Israel make it forty years in the desert? Why did Jesus point to the birds of the air and how the Father feeds them? And what about the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert? And what about the Apostles during their time with Jesus which they seem to not be working any jobs, but in fact Jesus told them to drop their nets and follow Him?

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJB)

26   Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 
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. 
28   Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 
29   Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 
30   They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 
31   Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 
32   Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 
33   For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 
34   Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 
35   And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 
John 6:26-35 (KJB)