GOOD WORKS – PART FOUR
Tuesday – March 20, 2018, Nisan 4, 5778
Greetings and welcome back to this faith building study from the wonderful Book of Hebrews. The featured picture is of an ancient synagogue (Jewish worship center). Now, let’s again review our primary text by 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,
As you will recall we are focused on verse twenty-four in the text above and the phrase “good works”. Yesterday, we once again reviewed the seven original commands (mandates) of God to His people (originally to Adam). These seven commands are the “good works” that God requires of us all. Of course, the “good works” the Lord may instruct me to do may not be the “good works” He requires of you. We are part of a body, we have unique and wonderful talents and God given gifts. We have authority in the earth and we have the Holy Spirit and Power to accomplish all things according to the will of God. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of good works and how it all worked out.
Luke 7:2-5 (KJV)
2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
A centurion is a Roman soldier, a leader of one-hundred men. He and his men were part of an occupying force in Israel at that time. This man was an adherent of Judaism but also had heard of Jesus and what he heard allowed him to build faith in what Jesus was teaching. When he hears Jesus is coming he asks the elders of the Jews to intercede with Jesus on his behalf and in the preceding passage they do. We find that he had done “good works”, he had built them, the Jews, a synagogue. As you will recall he had a servant sick at home. When he comes to Jesus the centurion tells Jesus there is no need for Jesus to come to his home, He can just say the Word. Jesus is ministering in the earth as a man (not as God and not as a God/man), filled with the Holy Spirit and Power (God, the Blessing). The faith of the centurion free of doubt activated the Anointing upon Jesus making the servant whole. We know that this centurion had faith for he had built a synagogue and loved the Jewish people. He put his money where his mouth was and had built a synagogue. We might ask ourselves, do we put our money, our time, ourselves where our mouth is? However, more important than all of that was that this man had confidence, faith, in the authority of Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus testifies to that faith. This centurion was a Gentile, and Jesus was sent to the Jews; however, this man appropriated healing by faith out of time.
Luke 7:9-10 (KJV)
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Remember the Syrophenician woman (Mark 7:26) also a Gentile came to Jesus for the healing of her daughter and her faith free of doubt combined with the Anointing on Jesus made the devils depart from the daughter. Let’s look at another example of “good works” that resulted in the flow of the Power of God. We will look at Cornelius another Gentile, a centurion, and a man who blessed (Genesis 12:3) Israel. Have you blessed Israel?
Acts 10:22 (KJV)
22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.
As you will recall Cornelius had a vision to call for Peter and Peter had a vision to go when called. This centurion had done good works concerning Israel in that he had given much alms. One could accurately say that he had blessed (a good work) Israel. When we bless Israel, God himself will bless us (Genesis 12:3). Subsequently, the Apostle Peter goes to the home of Cornelius and preaches the gospel.
Acts 10:43-48 (KJV)
43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
These people believed upon Jesus, were baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, and were water baptized all the same day. Oh, what a God we serve! This centurion, Cornelius, had given alms to the Jews, a good work. The Lord willing, we will continue the discussion about “good works” from right here tomorrow.
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
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