GOOD WORKS – PART THREE
Monday – March 19, 2018, Nisan 3, 5778
Well brother and sister are we ready to build our faith so we can really get about the Father’s business? Struggling and going from one storm to another, one calamity to another, and one sickness to another without real victory is not the will of God nor what Jesus purchased on Calvary. If the devil cannot get us to abandon our faith in God altogether he will see if he can distract us. He will try to get us in a ditch where we are just making it, our focus is on our particular predicaments, and Heaven someday. In this he, the devil, has succeeded in keeping us from the full practice of love and perhaps fully diverted us from good works. When the Apostle Paul writes about glorying (boast) in his infirmities (weakness) concerning any situation it was not that he enjoyed the attacks of the enemy but he knew who he was in Christ Jesus and these attacks were opportunities to show the goodness of God. Let’s review this reference on this topic. After all this is a good work, enforcing the victory of Calvary.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 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.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The grace of God (Holy Spirit and Power) takes over where our strength ends and nothing is impossible to us. Now remember, Paul did not have to be stoned, shipwrecked, or have poverty or illness of any kind as a born-again Spirit filled child of God. However, our spiritual enemies will present us with ample opportunities for all of the above. Will we look as Peter did that day on the water at the waves most boisterous or will we focus like a laser on Jesus, the Word? We can look all of the curse straight on when it looks like we are sheep to the slaughter and know that we are more than conquerors in Jesus name.
Romans 8:36-37 (KJV)
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
Now let’s turn our attention to our primary text reading it aloud.
Hebrews 10:23-26 (KJV)
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Now, let’s again focus on the twenty-fourth verse and on the phrase “good works”. I suspect that all of us have various ideas about what would constitute “good works”. Anything that we do in faith, powered by love, led of the Holy Spirit is a good work. A good work can be anything from a smile, an encouraging Word, mowing the lawn, paying off a mortgage, or laying hands on someone and they are made whole by the power of God in Jesus name. Because of the breadth of the “good works” that can further the Kingdom of God it is essential that we have a keen ear (spiritual ear) for the voice of God, His still small voice. As we move forward let me remind us all that God’s original instructions to Adam are not passed away and are eternal commands. Let’s review those once again.
Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV)
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis 2:15-17 (KJV)
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
We must never forget that God has given us dominion or authority over all the earth, if we don’t exercise that dominion He cannot exercise it for us. God (Elohim) gave us the Blessing (Holy Spirit and Power) to back up our authority (dominion). Those seven commands or mandates are as follows:
- To be fruitful.
- To multiply.
- To replenish the earth.
- To subdue the earth.
- To take care of our garden and the Kingdom of God.
- To guard all that is in our care.
- To not mix the knowledge of good and evil.
The ability to do these things as God did or would do them was lost for a season following sin. Since the Cross and the Resurrection Jesus has restored all things and we can do all in the authority of His name. These are foundational and fundamental good works. I will pick up right here tomorrow Lord willing.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
