KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4 ” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.

The Lord said, I must work the works of Him that sent me…” In our previous study we looked at how diligently he worked. Today we would consider what the works of God is. What is the work of God?

In the verse in question, the Lord was about to heal a blind man. Healing the sick is one of the works of God. The Lord said on many occasions that, it is the duty of every child of God to heal the sick (Matthew 10:1, Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9 and Mark 16:15-17).Every child of God has received the authority to heal the sick.

The Lord was a man of prayer. Prayer is one of the works of God. Praying is like sending up incense unto the Lord (.Rev 8:3) God loves to see His children pray. Prayer is fellowshipping with the Lord. He appreciates it when we come to him in prayer, Jesus prayed when He was been baptised (Luke 3:21), He prayed at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36), He rose up very early to pray (Mark 1:35) He prayed all night (Luke 6:12). Prayer is work, and it is hard work. The apostle said in Acts 6:4, that they would give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word .The Lord said men ought to pray and not to faint  (Luke 18 :1)

The Lord also went around preaching and teaching God’s word or the goodness. Until the truth is preached, men would continue to grope in darkness. The Lord spent most of His time preaching and teaching the word. Luke writes in Acts 1:1 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach”. (We have spoken a lot on His preaching expeditions in our previous study). The Lord taught one time, and kept teaching till three days, when he felt the people could faint if he allowed them to go home  (Mark 8:2). Dear child of God, the Lord calls on you to preach the word in season and out of season (2nd Timothy 4:2). He says we must go into the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20).

The works of God also includes everything that the Holy Spirit would lead you to do. (Rom 8:14)

Please take the task he gives you gladly; let His work your pleasure be; answer quickly when he calleth; here am I, send me, and send me.

CONFESSION

God’s work is giving yourself to please Him in all situations. I give my life over to Jesus to live for Him all the days of my life.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Luke 10:9 ” And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

Prayer Point: In the name of Jesus I have received grace to occupy till He comes.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4 ” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.

The Lord saw a man born blind. His disciples asked who sinned that he was born that way. This statement reveals that it was the mindset of the Jewish community in Jesus day to think and believe that one’s predicament is as a result of some sin committed. The Lord Jesus answered them that it was not the sin of anyone, but that the works of God should be made manifest in Him. The Lord then went on to make the statement we are considering.

He said “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes when no one can work”. The emphasis is, I must work the works of Him that sent me”. This statement gives no room for options. I must; this is obligatory. The Lord talked about *working. He said my Father is working and so I must also work. (John 5:17).

 The Lord Jesus was a very busy worker for God. At the age of twelve, He had started doing His father’s business. (Luke 2:49). From the day He ended His fasting He immediately started working for His father. The Bible says in Luke 4:14 that “Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Galilee….” After His forty days fast he did not go to hide to eat and sleep so he could regain His depleted strength. He rather carried on the work of the Father.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THE LORD WAS OCCUPIED WITH.

 He was in the synagogues  (Luke 4:15),He granted audience to various enquirers  (John 3:1-16), He visited people in their homes (Luke 19:5) He went from town to town, preaching the good news (Luke 9:6),He preached on the mountain (Matthew 5:1-3).He preached at the lake side. (Luke 5:1-5). He travelled on the sea often (Mark 4:35, 36). The Lord Jesus was nowhere a lazy man. He was very busy with God’s work.

Dear brother or sister how busy are you for God? We do not have all the days to ourselves, neither will we live forever. The Lord said ” And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds and said unto them occupy till I come”.( Luke 19:13) This means keep working till I come. God calls his servants labourers. (Matthew 9:38).

No matter your office, whether a Pope, Bishop, Pastor, Elder, Prophet or whatever, you are a labourer and you must prove yourself as such.

 CONFESSION

My Father is working and I must also work. I give myself to working diligently for the master for there is a crown for me.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Luke 2:49 “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

John 5:17 “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work”.

Prayer Point: O God my Father help me to complete fully whatever you called me to do.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:28” But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”.

 To stop any wrong actions you must first stop all those wrong thinking and imagination. Dr Billy Graham of blessed memory, speaking on this verse said, “After the first look do not take the second look”. He added “mind the second”. He meant after the first look you have the opportunity to make up your mind either to look again or not to look. To look the second time with lust, means you have willingly chosen to do so, and therefore you are fully liable.

Now listen to how the upright and righteous man Job put it “I made a covenant with mine eyes, why then should I think upon a maiden? Job 31:1. He covenanted with his eyes that he would not think on a woman. You can do the same. The eyes, ears, touch, taste, and smell are all gates into your heart, but the mind is the ultimate part or door that allows whatever it is to get to the heart. Always remember that “a decided mind cannot be tempted “. As Job said, put the mind in the right ‘ path” and your actions shall also be right.

The apostle Paul says in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of you mind …” The mind is always the control center of all actions, so renew it. Change your mental programming by feeding on the word of God. The psalmist asked in PS 119:9 that, how can a young man keep his way pure? And he answered, by taking, heed according to thy word. In verse 11 he said, thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you .Do not fight your wrong actions, just give extra attention to the word. Read it over and over again, meditate on it, and say it to yourself. As you do this you are setting your mind on the right path to determine how to act in line with your thinking. The Lord Jesus said all that I have said earlier in Matthew 12:33 “ 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”. Feed yourself with good things (the word) and you would be good.

CONFESSION

My mind is the door to my heart, I feed my mind continually with the word, and therefore my actions are always in agreement with the word.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Joshua 1:8  ” This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.

Psalms 119:130. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Prayer Point: Open my eyes of understanding to your word in Jesus name.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”.

The Lord Jesus made statements that transcends all generations.

The Lord made a very important truth that can help anyone who wishes to lead an impeccable moral life to do so. The Lord said in our opening scripture that, if a man looks on a woman to lust after her, then he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. This is a very serious statement. Let us bear in mind that God looks at the heart whiles men look on the outside. 1st Samuel 16: 7b “…..for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”.

It is true that as a man thinks, so is he. Proverbs 23:7. Your thoughts are very important. The Lord says if a man should look on a woman to lust after her, then he has already committed adultery with her.(this also goes for a woman too) Before any act is done or committed in the flesh, it has already happened in the heart. Before God you are as guilty in the heart just as you are when committed in the flesh. . Many so called well cultured individuals have committed adultery in their heart before God by the things they think about.

I wish to bring to the awareness of all readers of this material that, thoughts are not only ideas or images from a person’s thinking, but also they proceed from either God, through the agency of the Spirit or from the devil. (2nd Corinthians 10:4) When a child of God allows his thoughts to dwell on things contrary to the word of God, he is fellowshipping with devils. The Lord said these thoughts defile the man. Mark 7:23 “All these evil things come from within and defile the man”: Your thoughts either sanctify you or defile you. They will project you into whatever heights you can imagine or dwarf you to any minimal level that you allow.

 The choice is yours. You pay no pesewa to allow whatever thought that come to you but you are either the loser or benefactor depending on how you think.

 CONFESSION

I am what I think about. I choose my thoughts in line with God’s word. The Word gives no access to wrong thinking instigated by the flesh.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee”.

Romans 8:6-7 “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be”.

Prayer Point: In the name of Jesus I take authority over my thought to think only in line with the word of God.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 14:27 ” Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

In the last part of our key scripture the Lord said “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”. The Lord knew very well that there would be a lot of situations, and moments that can cause many to be troubled or even afraid.

In John 16:33 the Lord explained that, “these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulations but be of good cheer I have overcome the world”. In the world there would always be tribulations, Satan the arch enemy of God and his children raises all kinds of attacks against the people of God. The Lord tells us not to be troubled or to be afraid. A good look at the Lord’s statement in John 16:33 reveals something very powerful: He says in Him we shall have peace, but in the world we shall have tribulation. This statement would literally be interpreted that the Lord will always give peace to us whiles the world comes with its tribulations and antagonism.

When does the children of God become troubled and even afraid? When the child of God lose awareness of the presence of God because he or she fails to keep the promises of God at heart. One such promise is Hebrews 13:5&6. Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”.

The Lord is forever with us. He has promised never to leave us. The word used in Hebrews 13:5b is an emphasis. The real wording reads. “I will not in any way fail you nor give up ,nor leave you without support, I will not ,I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake, nor let you down ( relax my hold on you)(Amp Bible). This is a very strong message of assurance and every child of God must meditate on these words, this would make your heart ready to stand with the Lord, no matter the challenge that comes against you.

The other thing to do in that of trial is to confess the promises that the Lord has given us. Hebrews 13:6, says,”…..he has said so that we may boldly say….”Say what the Lord has said boldly.

Do not be worried at whatever come your way. The presence of the Lord will see you through.

CONFESSION

I am in Christ, in the world, trouble and challenges may abound but none of these things move me, for I am well secured in the Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Daniel 3:16-17 ” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”

Proverbs 3:5 ” Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

One strong promise that our Lord Jesus has left every Christian is His peace.

What is the peace of the Lord? In Philippians 4:6, 7 the apostle Paul talks about this peace of God. He said “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.

He tells us to be careful about nothing. Nothing means nothing at all. No worries whatsoever, but rather give over the issues to him in prayer with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the act that consummates our faith. The peace of God then comes as a guard to protect our minds and hearts. The peace of the Lord is not just a mental state. It is a supernatural power that protects our minds and hearts: it also passes human understanding. In times that one should have been unnecessarily troubled, this peace comes into action to keep our hearts and minds.

Please remember that our minds and hearts are two aspects of our being that if affected or destroyed there is nothing to be done to that individual. If an individual’s mind go bad he or she is useful for nothing. The proper functioning of the mind is simply indispensable. The heart is the centre of life for the man,. A dead heart means a dead man. Any adverse state of your heart will render a man totally devastated.

The peace of God is that authority of God that makes nothing able to affect him. His throne is never under any threat. He is all powerful, it is God’s Omnipotence that comes to secure us. This is only made possible when we put our trust in Him. This is how the bible says it in Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

THE PEACE OF GOD IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD THAT STAYS WITH US ALWAYS.

In every challenge, be assured of His presence.

CONFESSION

I am never moved or worried about anything for your presence gives me a lasting peace that makes me triumph always.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”.

Isaiah 54:10 ” For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee”.

Prayer Point: In the name of Jesus, because the Lord is with me, nothing will forever disturb my peace.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 14:27. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

Jesus said peace I leave with you, my peace do I give to you. True peace has eluded a lot of people. Peace is not the absence of trouble. Peace is an inner tranquility irrespective of what you have heard seen or what may be happening around.

He said His peace is not the kind the world gives. What kind of peace does the world give? The worldly peace is basically how comfortable the natural things can bring or make for you. This has led men to do everything to get the things of this world. Proverb 14:12 says “there is a way that seem right unto man, but the end therefore is the way unto death”. Men have continually chased after riches, pleasure and fame yet they are still very miserable.

 I always ask the people I share the gospel on one on one level, whether they have peace? Most of them say they have no peace? People go to any length to get riches. Riches is a blessing, yet riches without Jesus cannot give peace. The bible said many have pierced themselves with many sorrows, because of the lust for riches (1st Timothy 6:10). Peace can’t be found in anything outside. It is found only in the Prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6).

Some have also sort for peace in oriental meditations. These people focus their mind on certain things to the point that their minds become empty. In this way they anticipate to get peace. Please ask every sincere one in these practices if they really have peace?  True peace can only be found in one person, Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

No one comes to Him and leaves without His peace. The scripture says we enter into peace with God when a man places his faith in Him. (Romans 5:1). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus.”. It is possible for you to have the peace that Jesus gives.

Come to Him in faith. Acknowledge that He is able to give you the peace you need. Accept Him as the Lord over your life today.

  CONFESSION

Lord Jesus you came to end my turmoil and inner suffering. I accept you as the Lord over my life. Today I receive your peace right now. Thank you Jesus that I have your peace now.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”.

Prayer Point: in the name of Jesus I refuse to let anything dominate my life, robbing me of the peace of God.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 12:24-25 ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”.

The Lord’s statement in John 12:25 shows one of the strong points to overcome the devil. In Revelation 12:11 the bible reveals that the saints overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives even unto death. The third point says “and they loved not their lives even unto death”. This rhymes with what the Lord said that he that loves his life shall lose it. To love your life means you can’t walk with God.

 The just shall live by faith. Faith is to believe the word of God even if there is nothing physical or visible to prove it. Anyone who loves his life is very cautious about everything. Like Thomas, he would not believe until he has seen. But note: to live this way is called carnality. The bible says the carnal person is an enemy of God and cannot be subject to the law of God. It is also described as death (Romans 8:6-8).

 Indeed to love your life is to lose it. Satan would dominate and control the man who loves his life.

Just listen to what Satan said to the Lord about Job 2:4 “And Satan answered the Lord, and said skin for skin, yea, all that a man has will he give for his life”. Dear brother and Sister Satan knows very well that men love their lives and they would sacrifice anything for their lives. They would sacrifice their commitment to God for their lives. This was Satan’s strongest point against Job and knows that that attack cannot fail.

If a man would give his life unto the Lord and will love the Lord above his life, then. Satan is forever crippled in the affairs of this man. The ultimate attack of any man in his life is death. If that man values Jesus and his way above his life that man is truly free and will be able to overcome and handle whatever Satan brings his way.

THE ONLY WAY TO PRESERVE YOUR LIFE IS TO LOSE IT INTO JESUS HANDS.

  CONFESSION

Thank you Lord Jesus for showing me the way to true freedom. I live my life for you and put my absolute confidence in whatever you say.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Revelation 12:11” And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives even unto death.

Prayer Point: In Jesus name, I commit my whole life to loving Jesus and living for Him.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 12:24-25 ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”.

The Lord Jesus spoke in verse 25 of our key scripture that “He that loves his life shall lose it, but he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”. In this scripture the Lord taught us about true self-preservation.

The world and its secular thinking teaches us to protect what we have and keep our lives. The love for self and the craze to secure it has led men to act in ways that has opposed God’s way. Indeed the love for self-according to the bible is the cause of so much problems in our world these last days. (2nd Timothy 3:1, 2) There would be perilous times in the last days, because men shall be lovers of themselves.

The Lord in that scripture (John 12:25) meant, if a man would tend the control of his life into the hands of God, he would live a  very meaningful and very productive life, but when the man is scared about turning his life into God’s hands then he would lose it. In Matthew 14:15-21, the bible narrated the story of the multiplication of bread to feed the multitudes. What would have happened if this boy had feared to keep his bread and fishes. There would have been no multiplication of bread. The boy was not afraid about losing those loaves. He gave them over to the Lord. He went home with a basket full of fishes and loaves.

The best way to preserve your life is to turn it over unto the Lord. To turn your life over to the Lord  means you must love and appreciate His interests, His ways against your personal ambitions, choices and views. He said you must hate yourself. He was not talking about doing harm to yourself but choose his way over yours. A life given to the Lord is infused with divine life.

Apostle Paul remarked in Philippians 1:21 that “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. This philosophy of Paul made his life experience an outstanding one. He lived in joy, overcame the devil and has affected many generations with his experiences and teachings. He loved the Lord and hated his life, so he preserved his life.

 CONFESSION

To be truly living is to live for Jesus and not for yourself. I am living for Jesus and so my life is exceedingly fruitful and successful.

FURTHER STUDIES.

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.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 ” This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy”,

Prayer Point: in the name of Jesus I offer my life as an instrument for His absolute use for His glory.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 12:24-25  ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”.

Our Lord Jesus said that truly, truly, except a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone. This statement gives answer to everyone who feels he has no helper, a victim or not privileged.

The Lord is saying that every one’s prosperity, success and fulfilment is hidden within himself or herself. There are a number of people who are always begging for assistance and recognition. They feel life has not been fair to them. There are even some who have decided to use violence to rob those who they think have been privileged. Some even label every successful man as a criminal. Please if you fall into any of these categories, then do take this study very seriously. God never placed your ability to be successful in another person. Others may assist, supply certain things you may be lacking, yet the ability to be great is hidden in the inside of you. Stop looking outside and know that God placed it there.

 In the parable of the talents, Jesus taught that everyone was given some talent (Matthew 25:15-28). God never made a dummy. You have something special to offer mankind.

Within every seed are many trees and even a forest. There are countless number of fruits in that small seed, no matter how insignificant it may look. You are that seed with all the greatness in you.

All you need to do is to plant it. Whoever you are what you need to do is to commit your life to a course. You may start giving a wholehearted service to some people. Whatever you find to do, do it with all diligence (Proverb 10:4). Don’t do it because of what you intend to receive, do it with the prime purpose to bless the recipients of that service. You would always be rewarded for your satisfactory services.

Beloved nobody was created to be unproductive, so long as the person is not mentally handicapped. Even if you have any deformity of some sort you can still give your best.  Many have proved it. Don’t be limited in your mind. You were born great, commit yourself to a worthy course by sacrificing your life for that course.

 CONFESSION

I was born with great potentials. All these are hidden within me. As I sacrifice and dedicate myself to a course, all the hidden potentials go into action to be a blessing unto the world.

Further studies.

Proverbs 12:24 ” The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute”.

Proverbs 10:4 ” He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich”.

Prayer Point: I refuse to be poor and insignificant by committed my life to serving a righteous course in Jesus name.