God @ Work - Life @ Work

““Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

Exodus 20:8-11 NIV

1) We are made to work hard

" six days you shall labor and do all your work,"

2) We are not made to work non-stop

"....on it, you shall not do any work,.."

3) We are made to rest

"... , but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.. He rested on the seventh day."

Sabbath - to cease, to end, or to rest

The Sabbath - 4 concepts 

A) Rhythm

God has build the rhythm of work and rest.

God's rhythm for us: 

Time to rest and time to be still everyday.

B) Refocus

Stop and focus on God.

God is the Lord of our lives.

The Sabbath day is not a holiday but a holy day.

A day where we set apart and put God in the center of our lives.

It's an intentional shift from me to HIM

It's a MOVE from work to WORSHIP 

We all need that. To get refreshed and new strength from God.

It's God in control and I am not.

C) Renewal

The state of being made new.

In our body, soul and spirit

"If you don't come apart and rest awhile, you will come apart."

-Old proverb-

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.”

Mark 6:31-32 NIV

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NIV

Each time you take time to rest in God, you will be renewed, sharpen faith with God, the supernatural touch from God to strength and renewal your soul.

D) Reliance

A rest of faith

No matter what we do, God is in control of my life.

One day out of six day, we stop and put God in control in my life.

Learn to honor Him as the source of my life. 

It's not what I can do, it's what God can do in my life.

God delights when we put our trust in Him

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Psalm 127:1-2 NIV

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 NIV

God @ Work - Ethics @ Work

What is Its Foundation?

Christian Ethics is founded on the changeless character of God

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8 NIV

This passage states the two main Commandments.

God's REQUIREMENT of US:

1) ACT JUSTLY

2) LOVE MERCY

3) WALK HUMBLY with Your God

1) ACT JUSTLY

"To act justly..." 

Micah 6:8

The Problem of Dual Morality

The Sin of Omission and Commission

- the Sin of not doing something that is right

- the Sin of doing something that is wrong 

Benefits over Commission

Ethics over Omission

2) LOVE MERCY

".... to love mercy"

Mercy is Justice with Love: The 2nd Chance 

Matthew 5:7" blessed are those merciful "

Mercy is tempered with love.

Mercy is unexpected Kindness: The 2nd Mile

When to hand out justice when to hand out love

3) WALK HUMBLY with Your God

".... and to walk humbly with your God"

Have can we live wisely and humbly?

God is on the move in his mission 

We participate in God's mission

- Pride is the greatest Sin of life

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV

1 Cor 10:31

It's about God,  Not about us

We are not earning to get God on our side.

We are upworking the character of God in us.

4 Tests for Ethical Living

1) the Sleeping Test - if I do this, can I sleep at night?

2) the Newspaper Test - Would I 

3) the Mirror Test - If I do this, will I feel uncomfortable with myself when facing this mirror?

4) the Child Test - If I do this, would I mind telling my teenage child?

Can I Pray For You? - Special Speaker : Pastor Benny Ho

ALuke 10:1-9 NKJV

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few;

Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

We are the answer for the prayer.

Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.

Depend on God, it's urgency. 

Do not go from house to house

Keep sowing, stay. Perserve. Be patient.

4 Steps Strategy

1) Bless the LOST

But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 

Speak peace over them. 

We make peace with the lost. Everyone likes to be blessed.

We push off curses

Every time , we bless them we pushing the darkness over them.

Without strings attached, we intro grace into their lives.

Unmerited favor.

It will bring favor with the unsaved.

Often we curse the lost, than we bless them.

Romans 12:14-21 NIV

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

2) Fellowship with the Lost

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give

3) Pray for the Lost

And heal the sick there, 

Pray prayers of faith 

It's God's will to heal not within the four walls in church but in the marketplace.

That they can feel the power of the living God.

1 Corinthians 1:22-24 NIV

“Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

God loves to answer the prayers of the non-believers. He more concern of them to be saved. 

Pre-believers are more open to receive of their prayers of their felt needs.

Pray 

4) Preach to the Lost

and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

We are bringing the kingdom to them

Luke 10:17-20 NIV

“The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

The key is the church is doing in the marketplace with the authority of God.