GOOD WORKS – PART TWO
Friday – March 16, 2018 – Adar 29, 5778
Welcome back to this amazing Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews. Again, I encourage you, if you find these teachings valuable, to share them on Facebook and encourage them to sign up to receive these by email by going to WordPress (link at the end of this teaching). Now, let us read our primary text aloud.
Hebrews 10:23-25 (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.
Today, I will be continuing with the twenty-fourth verse and the command to provoke ourselves and others unto love and to good works. We reviewed yesterday that the foundational “good works” were established and commanded of mankind right from the get go of this creation. There are many good, bad, and flawed examples for us to learn from in Scripture however never forget that Jesus is our primary functional model. For example, the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked but Jesus never was. If we were to come to the conclusion that being shipwrecked is the will of God and an expected and to be anticipated part of the Christian walk we will suffer much harm unnecessarily. Let’s read aloud the following secondary text.
Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV)
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
You and I precious brother and sister are the salt of the earth. As you are aware salt does many things but we will zero in on what Jesus zeroed in on which was the idea of salt (people) losing its’ taste or flavor. According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament the word translated as “savour” in the text means to become foolish, to make dull, to lose its taste or the purpose for which it exists. We must be very careful not to ever lose sight of the purpose for which we exist and become foolish. When we cease to be salt in the earth the people of the world will trod us underfoot. What is happening to Christians and the Church today? Suppose we are adding nothing of value having become foolish? Jesus then switches over to us being the light of the world. It is commonly said in error that Jesus is the light of the world.
John 9:5 (KJV)
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
We are in His place in the earth, in the world. We are light to the world which is the Anointed Word of God on display showing the goodness (glory) of our God. The only “good works” that show the goodness of God or glorify our Father are those done in the light. These are the God directed works that are done with the exercise of our authority and the backing of the Holy Spirit. There are many other things that are called good works by the Church and the world which are not an effective witness and do nothing to advance and commonly impede the Kingdom of God. Let’s consider the following text.
John 10:31-32 (KJV)
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
The four gospels give us many details about the good works of Jesus which we are to do and even greater things (see John 14:12 and Matthew 15:30-31). Did they stone Him?
John 10:39-40 (KJV)
39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
No, He just walked away. He is our primary example, not the Apostle Paul who was stoned and left for dead. Lord willing, we will pickup right here on Monday.
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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