God @ Work ~ Gospel at Work

Gospel at Work is a Lifestyle.

 

Daniel 6:1-4 NIV

“It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.”

A) Be Devoted ~ Daniel 6:1-8

Person |  Purpose 

B) Be Dedicated

Daniel 2:48 NIV

“Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.”

Daniel 6:3 NIV

“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.”

C) Be Different 

Daniel 6:4-5 NIV

“At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.””

Daniel chooses: 

We are made Holy by Jesus Christ

To be effective - change

By the redeeming grace from God.

D) Be Determined 

Daniel 6:10 NIV

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Prayer | Posture

Colossians 4:2-4 NIV

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”

Pray for open doors 

Pray for open hearts

Pray for God to touch your boss in a special way

Be Wise 

Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders

Be Discerning

Make the most of every opportunity

Be Gracious in Your Speech

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt

God @ Work ~ Relationship @ Work

What is Trust? 

If self orientation goes Up, Trust goes Up!

What is the equation for healthy good relation @ work?

Philippians 2:1-16

A - Relationship @ Work is actually Jesus Centered Relationship. 

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

If you want to build relationship on Jesus 

centered:

1) Add value to the lives of others

2) Value People Wholeheartedly 

Wrong / Barriers @ Work:

Mutual accommodation of self-need

- relationship becomes transaction , manipulate for self need.

- stepping stone as career advancement.

- Self interest

If focus on self, think of ourselves as King and others as servants. 

So sometimes at work, they response to you like dirt. 

But if we focus on other, what can I do for you, treat others as Kings, meet other needs, people will reciprocate to your needs. 

How are you treating  people at work?  

B- Model: Phil 2: 5-13

Jesus as our model.

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Philippians 2:5-13 NIV

Jesus must be willing to sacrifice in order to save us.

He takes the role of servant to die for us. 

Put on the mindset of Christ. 

To add value in the other lives for their sake. 

The question is not can we.

Just Do It! 

It is a choice. 

C - Motivation 

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky”

Philippians 2:14-15 NIV

In everything we do, we should glorify God. Amen!

From Setbacks to Comebacks!

We all experience Setbacks from time to time.

Setbacks:

Shattered dreams, Financial failure, Unexpected illness, Relationship breakdown, Retrenched, Failed exam, Delinquent children, Betrayal, 

 1 character in Bible ~ Joseph

God is in control of Joseph's life

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

Genesis 50:20 NIV

Truths of Setbacks in Live

1) God knows

He know what we are going through

“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”

Genesis 39:2 NIV

God knows what Joseph is going through

2) God is not punishing you

The devil speaks all kind of negative thoughts. 

It's normal for us to try to make sense out of the nonsense 

5 reasons why we experience setbacks

1) Self inflicted 

2) Sin

We all fallen people, in a fallen world

3) Situational

4) Spirtual warfare 

5) Sovernity of God 

3) God will not let you go through more than you can handle

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

God sets a limit and boundary to devil what he can do to Joseph 

4) God uses setbacks to bring potential out of us that we didn't even know we had.

“Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.”

Genesis 39:4 NIV

God was preparing a tasks ahead of Joseph

God is maturing us in preparing ahead of us. 

God is preparing you through setbacks in life.

God is working on our life by going through the setback 

5) God will not allow a setback into you life unless He has a purpose for it.

6) God will surprise you in your wildest imagination 

Don't put your situation Ina box. Let Him surprise you.

7) God is bigger than your setbacks

We magnify our problems, and overwhelm by our setbacks.

We have to be reminded that God is bigger, stronger and we put our hope with GOD.

"hopeless" - hope is in front 

8) God has a destiny for you

Joseph was a dreamer and God made his dreams come true.

Don't let your setbacks to fulfill your dreams and God has a destiny for you. Keep the focus on Him and He will bring that fulfillment to your life.

It is important for us, we ask from God two things: 

1) Strength 

“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 40:31 NIV

2) Wisdom

Weak mind makes poor decision.

Let God grant you wisdom on what to do. 

Love Self 2 ~ Love Others: Honour in Family

Transformation

The heart has to be in line with what God wants us to do

Ephesians 6:1-9 NIV

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.”

““Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Exodus 20:12 NIV

Honor - give weight, respect, value to someone

To give esteem others than yourself

1) Command with a PRIORITY

Why? 

An Elevation to Recognize 

An Esteem to Render

An Experience to Regard

- wiser, more experience than us 

Honoring our parents is not about:

- Their Performance

Honoring our parents is about:

- Their Position

- Their Personhood ( God created everyone an image of Himself. God can bring about a change in their lives, ) 

Honoring our parents is not mean it's ok to give in to them but to honor them is to honor to God. 

It's a step of obedience and faith to believe that God can do amazing things our family.

What are some ways you can honor your parents?

2) Commamd with a PROMISE

““Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.””

Ephesians 6:2-3 NIV

Our days will be lightened 

Our days will be lengthened

3) Command with a PRINCIPLE

When you respect others, you get respect

4) Command with a PURPOSE 

1 Peter 2:17

“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”

1 Peter 2:17 NIV

Learn to honor those who served us.

5) Command with a POSTURE

It takes Humanity to honor people

Love Self 2 ~ Love Others: Passion in Marriage

Marriage is the GOSPEL personified, the greatest earthly representation of the spiritual Union of Christ and His Church

“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

Ephesians 5:31-33 NIV

SUBMIT TO CHRIST:

The Head and the Body

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Ephesians 5:21 NIV

Christ is our Head

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”

Ephesians 5:22-24 NIV

Christ is Our Example

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.”

Ephesians 5:25-30 NIV

"Love, in the Christian sense, does not mean on emotion. It is a state not of the feelings but of the will; that state of the will which we have naturally about ourselves, and must learn to have other people."

C.S. Lewis

"We never know whom we marry; we just think we do.... 

The primary problem is... Learning how to love and care for the stranger to whom you find yourself married."

Stanley Hauerwad

CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCE:

Husband and Wife

““For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.””

Ephesians 5:31 NIV

Opposite attract : DESIRE

Opposite Annoy: DUTY

Opposire Affirmed DELIGHT

Agape: Servant

Philia: Friend

Storge: Sibling

Eros: Lover

SHOWCASE THE GOSPEL'S POWER: 

Christ and the Church

The first purpose in marriage -

Beyond happiness, sexual expression, the bearing of children, company's hip, mutual care and provision, or anything else - is to please God. 

The challenge, of course, is that it is utterly selfless living; rather than asking, " What will make me happy?" We are told that we must ask, " What will make God happy?" Gary Thomas

"If you understand what holiness is you come to see that real happiness is on the far side of holiness, not the near side." Timothy Keller

The Spirit Power

The Sacred Promise 

" I didn't marry you because you were perfect. I didn't even marry you because I love you. I married you because you gave me a promise. That promise made up for your faults. And the promise I gave you made up for mine.

Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage. And when our children were growing up, it wasn't a house that protected them; and it wasn't our love that protected them - it was that promise." Thornton Wilder

Marriage is your loudest Gospel message 

Peter Scazzero

When God says "No"

“Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Acts 16:6-10 NIV

I : Your dream must die for His Vision to Rise.

God closes doors to open other doors.

God will open doors in His own time.

Dr. David Lim is in GraceAOG Bukit Gombart! 

II: Know God as Father

- Jesus in John: Father Son

- John 3:16 His only begotten son (Huios)

- John 5:19-20 Relationship with the Father.

Ministry is relationship with Father 

- John 20:-22 "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

III: Claim Your Sonship! 

Reject the Orphan Spirit

- If He is Father (John 14:18) 

No leave you as orphans 

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.””

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

He has a plan , a purposes 

This is God's kingdom, God's plan. 

Don't accept "No" as personally.

Let go or becomes bondage.

Don't let the devil take charge of you. Don't give up. 

Don't give up your vision.

God is still going to use you even now He said "No" . He has a destiny in your life and the best is still yet to come !

God uses everyone! 

A Father's Blessing

To All Dads out there, Happy Father's Day! 

To my daddy, thank you. For all you've done.

Thank you Abba Father for my daddy.

AMEN! 

Today's sermon that I felt I want to share here....

Exodus 20:12

““Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Fathers are key in ensuring the continuation and conveyance of God's blessings in our homes, church and communities. 

Proverbs 4:1-4

“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother. Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live.”

His DIVINE Calling

A) WHO - A Father is divining called by God

- Appointed by God , ordained by God to your family

- It's transgenerational 

B) WHAT - Role model to your child

Ephesians 6:4

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Exasperate - to provoke

To bring up - to nurture 

 

" Yes I love you, and No, you can't have your way! "

Authoritarian | Disconnected | Permissive | Affirming 

Yes I love - unconditionally 

Fathers - Be Interested, Be There

His Spiritual Contribution

Remember Esau's Cry: Gensis 27:34,35

Remember Job's Concern : Job 1:5b,c

What blessing? 

A) Priestly blessing 

Numbers 6:24-26

““ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’”

Numbers 6:24-26 NIV

God's Promise | Protection | Presence | Peace

B) Prophetic Blessing 

Gensis 49:28

“All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him.”

Affirmation of God's Work | Recongition of God's Gifts | Declaration of God's Purpose

His Godly Children 

Hebrews 13:17

“Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.”

A) Filial 

Ephesians 6:1-3

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.””

B) Forgive 

What you thinking is so important. What are you pondering?

Today sermon at church that I felt to share....

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8 NIV

Your thinking is very important.

Is it true?

Is it noble?

Is it right ?

Is it pure?

Is it lovely?

Is it admirably?

Is it excellent?

Is it praiseworthy?

Ponder - focus what is right

It begins with your mind.

Your mind and my mind is so powerful.

    

Practice 

- what are you filling your mind?

- what are the conversations you do in your office?

- what are the people you mix with?

"The food that enters the mind must be watched as closely as the food that enters the body"

Patrick Buchanan 

Discipline of the mind

- Adjust

    - Align 

It's important that you uses the word of God to fight off the negative thoughts and voices inside you.

Discipleship of the mind 

The peace is with Jesus!

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””

John 16:33 NIV

Pray 

The mind is the battleground for warfare. 

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV

Through Christ we can overcome! 

Overcome 

Overcomer