Hebrews 6:10
God Does Not Forget
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
God’s Omniscient Memory
I always say, My memory is the thing that I forget with, for I have forgotten more than I have ever retained. In our world some things are good to forget, and some things are good to remember. This all makes up the world of mankind, but God in His ability and in His omniscient mind knows all things; and is able to bring all things into His memory. We can never understand the mind of God for He has created us in our low estate, however, in the new birth with Jesus Christ by the Spirit of God, we have been given, as the children of God, a divine nature. God has made the statement on certain portions of the human experience that those experiences concerning man, He would remember no more. This is also an act of His omniscient power, He is able to catalogue things in His memory. When the Lord Jesus was upon this earth, He displayed His omniscient power, He knew the heart of every man, He also (through the mind of God) displayed His recall of His own word which is settled in heaven. This was a small thing to God, but yet, as we look on, we see the wonder that the Living Word quoted from His own word, that is settled forever in heaven. As the Living Word we look upon Him with great wonder, for this all involved the mind that was in Christ Jesus. And Christ, being God, is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love.
His Work: His Name
Note: this work and labor of love must first be towards His name. His name and authority have the preeminence of what we do in the will of the Almighty God. So many works are done in the name of man. They have the same traits as Adam, and these works would be classified as dead works. There is a special quality in the Lord’s work that most of modern man, and modern Christianity do not see. The true works of righteousness must be done for Christ and in Christ, and all of this for the love of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ. In the book of Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, we have 7 categories of overcomers. Each one of these overcomers, God remembers because they were faithful in His work, and in His name. It is not the work that is important, it is Christ in the work. In our own frail beings sometimes forgetting allows us to see more or to see further ahead, I say this not only through my own experience, but by the clarification of the apostle Paul in the book of Philippians, Chapter 3, verse 13 and 14.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Just think how effective Paul would have been if he had continually dwelt on the day that he persecuted the church and persecuted the Lord Jesus Christ. The third Chapter of Philippians is given to draw us deeper into the Person and mind of Christ to show us that every action of our life is under the divine ordinances of heaven; and that our labor for the Lord Jesus should not be redundant, nor be self-motivated, nor be enticed by religion or by the world. Our labor for Christ should first be to the glories of His name, and our labor should be a labor of love. Does not love overcome all things? Herein is love that a man lay done his life for his friends. So we behold the outstretched arms of Christ in His marvelous love for us. Why His name? because His name is given above every name. Jesus (Savior) is the name that we press on to, and it is the name whereby we are allowed to forget what is behind us. We are no longer carrying the load of sin. The Holy Spirit has released us from that burden so that we (as Christians) can press towards the mark for the glorious prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We have been given a path to follow of God’s divine righteousness. We have been given an example by the divine man who followed that path in the complete obedience to the will of God His Father. The Lord Jesus never made a miss-step, never wavered from the will of God. His divine path was and is the righteousness of God. And all that we do in His glorious name is retained by the Lord, for He has promised that He will not forget our labor of love. In the work that is done in His divine name we can be assured that He will remember our work.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:11,12)
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42)
For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mark 9:41) It is not the work, but His name that gives authority and quality to the work that we do.
These verses show us the importance of His name and Person being in control of our work and labor of love for Him. It is not the work, but His name that gives authority and quality to the work that we do. As we pass a cup of cool water, we are not doing it for ourselves, but for the Lord who has bought us with His own blood. Remember on the Damascus Road, Paul was brought to his knees by the divine presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ looked at Paul’s existing work as a persecution not only against His Church, but the persecution was being received by Christ Himself through the Lord’s declaration, why persecutest thou me?
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:4, 5)
When Paul was converted, he found in Christ a new path that was completely opposite of where he was before his conversion. Paul now had a labor of love to the name of Christ; and this shows up in every one of his epistles. Each and every action, and all of Paul’s desires was to labor in the love of God, and this to Paul was above all things; so much so, that he found himself in the third heaven seeing all the things of glory, hearing all the anthems of the holy that he could not utter because of the frailty of the speech of man.
In The Name of Love
We do it unto Him, and to His name, the name that is above all things, and He will not forget our labor of love. Love is a motivator for man, for man has done great feats, traveled far distances, acquired and conquered complete realms all in the name of love. How much more should the love of God compel us to labor in the works of Christ for others; to love the saints, that our labor of love is in the name of the Lord, and to His name and Person. He will not forget one cup of water given in His name. The smallest stone had the greatest impact when David stood before the giant Goliath. It was not the stone, but the hurling of the stone in the name of the Lord. God would not forget David’s labor of love to the Lord’s name. There is also this: one must measure truth, all truth in the work of the Lord. For if this work is to be to His name it must be upheld by His truth. A work in unrighteousness will not be upheld or qualified by the Lord, and that work would be designated a work of the flesh. And we know what type of work that is for we see it all around us in modern Christianity. A work that is done to His glorious name is also done to the glory of His Person. As the Lord pointed out the simplest thing, a cup of water given in His name, and this is profound, for it is recorded in heaven. A cup of water in His name remembered in the highest of heavens.
Can The World Be Made A Better Place?
The theme today in many religious circles including liberal Christianity is to make the world a better place. Now let’s consider a man, the son of man, as the Son of God He had all power as we witnessed when He stilled the storm, cast out demons, healed lepers, and read the minds and hearts of man. He declared His omnipresence to Nicodemus in the gospel of John Chapter 3. And also stated that the works of His Spirit (as the divine winds of righteousness) cannot be seen. We cannot see the wind; we can only behold the effects as it passes by. This is the Spirit, and this is the Spirit of truth. All power was given unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Did the world surrender, No. It killed the Prince of life. And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. (Acts 3:15) This was the result of the present evil world in the day when the Lord Jesus walked upon this earth. After He had ascended on high, the apostle John (in his first epistle) described the world as being the present evil world. The religious mind wants to make the world a better place, this is impossible as long as sin reigns in the hearts of men. The same heart that killed the Prince of life roams the highways and byways of life today. Man does not want to recognize Adam in himself, but man is tied to sin, and the lie of Adam. Adam tried to lie his way out of his situation by putting the blame on God when he stated, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me.
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:12)
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: (Job 31:33)
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8 – 10)
Speaking as a man in the flesh, Adam did not realize the depth and the distance he had fallen. He had brought sin in the world and had become sin himself. There was no way out of this tragedy, but Adam thought he could shift the blame and the responsibility onto another. To show that Eve had also fallen into sin, she attempted to blame the Serpent for her own transgression. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. (Genesis 3:13) When Adam and Eve partook of the tree of good and evil, was this a work for the Lord? No. It was the first work of the flesh in opposition to the will of God, and this has continued to our present day. How could bringing sin into the world ever be done in the glorious name of God? We are beginning to see a little more of His glorious name, for His glorious name could not be attached to the sin of the world. Over the years I have watched the masses (they insist on using His name in unrighteousness). Their works have nothing to do with the good will of God, and yet, they attach their unholy works to the name of Jesus Christ. God is a righteous Being, He will not allow His name to be sold by sin. And His righteousness will outshine the works of darkness. He will expose them, and reject them by His truth, both in heaven and in His written word. Now the writer of the book of Hebrews did not clarify this wonderful truth in verse 10 of Chapter 6. It was the Spirit of God who gave this verse and of course, all verses within the holy writ. I have to admit that I have been reading right by this verse for years until now, why? The Spirit of God has brought it to my heart that in our modern world, it is the amount of work and not the quality of the work that is admired and accepted; whether it is secular work, or the religious establishment; quality as well as craftsmanship has been thrown out the window. The quality of the work of Christ must be in truth. The craftsmanship of the work must be done in the name and by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, to this name every knee shall bow. Should not His glorious work in His glorious name have the same reverence? Out of all names given among men, this name, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the holiest of names. In Hebrews 6:10, the Spirit of God does not bring in the world, for the ministry that is done in the name of the Lord is to the saints, and this ministry is continuous as the Lord leads in grace and truth. (John 1)
Prayer: Sacrificial Work
The smallest work in prayer can accomplish the greatest feat. Your prayers for the brethren, for the saints, are important to Christ Himself. And even your prayers must be given to His glorious name. We never think of our prayers as sacrifices, yet Christ looks upon them in that way. The works that are done in the name of the Lord Jesus are not always seen by man or the world. What did Peter say to the lame man who was sitting on the Temple steps, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. (Acts 3:6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. We should examine this work of the Holy Spirit of God through His servant Peter. First, this work was done in the NAME of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to clarify the words ‘of Nazareth’ was used. Why? The Lord Himself proclaimed to His disciples that many would come in His name using the very name of Jesus. So the Holy Spirit clarifies this monumental work by stating that it was done in no other name, but the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The power from on high had reached to this poor lame sinner, the power of the Lord was bestowed on healing him.
The Work of the Ninth Hour
Let us look at the section in Acts 3 for more light and understanding . . .
Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: (Acts 3:1-9)
Both Peter and John were going into the Temple together, they were going in at the gate that was called ‘Beautiful.’ The Holy Spirit also gave us the time, it was the ninth hour, and this hour was designated as the hour of prayer. The Jews had established this hour of prayer unknowingly to fulfill the purpose of God. At the 9th hour every day men gathered to pray. If we should we examine the 9th hour, we would see its full purpose? This is what happened at the 9th hour: Jesus bowed His head and gave up the ghost.
And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.(Mark 15:33-35)
And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:37, 38)
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)
And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. (Mark 15:33)
At the 9th hour the Lord’s work on the cross was finished. He proclaimed with a loud powerful voice, although suffering for the transgressions and sin of the whole world, the complete power of heaven was announced in the very words: It is finished.
All this was finalized in the 9th hour. The number nine (9) is also the last single digit showing us not only the end, but the approach or the beginning of a new thing. How great are the mysteries of God tying all things together in one single digit of finality, and giving us everlasting hope in the finished work of Christ Jesus our Lord. Now this was the time of prayer, remember the Lord Himself stated that His house should not be a den of thieves or of merchandise, but a house of prayer. How the Spirit of God draws us deeper into His divine work done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In this 9th hour the Jewish system was broken, their religion became a past tense, this with the renting of the veil in the Temple. Not only do we apply all things to become new (to the new born Christian) at the death of Christ a new hour had begun for all men. For now man was given an object of salvation in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be no more a Jewish system of corruption, but a divine Man in heaven directing and leading His Church through this evil world. As the veil was rent in the 9th hour, (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) the finality had come, for all creation now was under a new order, and that order was the rule and power of a Man in heaven at the right hand of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The religion of the corrupt Jews was over, the last single digit (the number 9) had come in the finished work of Christ when He bowed His head and gave up the ghost. Melchisedec had presented the sacrifice to God, and God had accepted it from the hand of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Also at the 9th hour the world (in the centurion) looked at the Lord Jesus Christ, and declared for all to know that this man, the son of man was the Son of God.
The 9th Hour: Outside The Beautiful Gate
And now we see the work continued on the steps of the Temple by the Spirit of Christ on the 9th hour at the Beautiful Gate making this man whole. Think of this hour in the man’s mind. This 9th hour had to be a wonderful hour for this lame man. He was lame from birth, and in that condition, he was denied access to the Temple under the Jewish traditions, but now to show this new beginning in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (which is His full title) this name which is above every name was bestowed upon the anointed man at the right hand of God for us. (Hebrews 1: 9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
The 9th Hour: Inside of The Beautiful Gate
In this wonderful miracle the man was not only made whole, but he was now able to enter into the Temple and enter into the sweet hour of prayer. Many have been drawn to this wonderful name by hours of prayer: a mother for her son, a father for his prodigal, a Samaritan for a stranger, a widow abiding in the Temple, a man waiting for the consolation of Israel, an aunt for a niece, a sister for her brother Lazarus, all praying in that most wonderful fullest name of: the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I add ‘of Nazareth.’ There was no other name given among men that would heal this crippled man, as there is no other name given amongst men whereby our crippled hearts can be made whole. We are saved through this divine Person, who bears and holds this wonderful name and title in all righteousness, and in all the glory of God.
The Beautiful Gate
This power came to the lame man, it was the power of God expressed by the Spirit of Christ. Peter reached down and took this man by the right hand, another wonderful similitude: and he lifted him up by the hand of power by the most glorious name: Jesus Christ. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. Immediately, not in the course of time, but immediately the man received strength. All those years begging for alms, now he was made whole by no earthly treasure, but by the divine name of God’s dear Son, and he entered into the Temple through the Beautiful Gate. This section of Scripture is so full of divine understanding. God is speaking through each and every movement of the unsearchable riches of Christ. He enters into the Beautiful Gate, now, this is the only time that the name of ‘Beautiful Gate’ is used in the whole word of God. The word ‘gate’ appears approximately 220 times, the word ‘beautiful’ appears approximately 23 times; yet, only one ‘Beautiful Gate;’ is mentioned. Does not this fit the 9th hour? This is the 9th hour of prayer. A lame man from his birth, a citizen of a crippled nation (from its birth) paralyzed by sin, but now he was made whole by the divine name of Jesus Christ.
We should apply Romans 10:15, (And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!) to Peter and see the marvelous work that the Lord Jesus had put into Peter’s hands in John Chapter 21. Let us now compare John Chapter 21:15 through 17.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)
Three times the Lord exhorted Peter to draw out and to feed the children of God. The Lord used the word ‘lambs’ once, and the word ‘sheep’ twice. The lambs is always seen as singular (lamb) wherein ‘sheep’ designates a flock. In Psalm 23, we have an individual lamb, as an individual child of God. In John Chapter 21, verses 16 and 17, we have the care of the whole flock of God, as Paul reminds us as well. This was the work that Peter was given from the Lord Jesus Christ, and we see this in its fullness on the steps of the Temple on the 9th hour at the Beautiful Gate. Peter is truly a messenger with glad tidings of good joy to the lame man. In all the years upon those steps in his condition, his brokenness, and he could only look at the Beautiful Gate, but could not enter in. That Beautiful Gate was open to him by the power and majesty of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was now made whole. He could now enter into the Temple. And he does it with great joy knowing in his heart and soul that Jesus of Nazareth had made him whole.
I write this only in reflection when we consider our own salvation, when we consider the man at the right hand of God who has made us whole. The nation of Israel still has a long way to go before she in her entirety receives this wonderful name. When she comes to realize and looks upon the One who she has pierced and asks the question, What are these wounds in thine hands? (Zechariah 13:6) And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
The 9th Hour: The Temple Steps: The Lame Man:
Outside and Inside the Beautiful Gate
Lets again consider this panorama before us. The steps of the Temple, the lame man made whole, the Beautiful Gate, and all within the hour of prayer at the 9th hour. The wounds of Calvary brought forth the glory of the Beautiful Gate, the Spirit of God designates it one time in all of Scripture as the Beautiful Gate. This Beautiful Gate in the end of Jacob’s trouble will bring forth the glory for all of Israel. When the Son of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) will take them into His Temple, and He will be both King and Priest to His redeemed nation.
SIDE NOTE: KING and PRIEST
(Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13) In Zechariah 6:13 we see the Lord Jesus ruling and sitting upon His throne, the throne of righteousness. We see Him as Priest after the order of Melchizedek drawing the conclusion of Hebrews Chapter 7. And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16) In Zechariah 14:16, we have the nation being humbled to the King, the Lord of hosts, in their yearly pilgrimage to worship the Lord of lords, and King of kings. (Psalm 110:4) The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:18) And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.)
The glory of Israel will sit upon His throne and Jacob will see His face and be healed of his lameness. (Psalm 24) As the gates are lifted up they lead to the everlasting doors, and it is the Lord of glory that shall come in.
This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24:6-10)
I should mention that in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ concerning the heavenly city there are twelve (12) gates. Not one of these gates is mentioned by name, however, each one of these gates is as a pearl most precious. May I remind you of the pearl of great price, would this not give us twelve beautiful gates.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,(Revelation 21:10)
And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. (Revelation 21:21)
The Lame Man: Lame Jacob: Lame Israel
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank. (Genesis 32:24-32)
He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; (Hosea 12:3,4)
This lame man (in Acts 3) is a symbol of Jacob both before and after the work of Christ on the cross. Jacob (after God touched his thigh) limped away into the rising sun leaning upon his staff, but not leaning upon God. So Israel (as a nation) took on the same characteristics as Jacob. They were halt, hobbled, hindered, and crippled in their devotion to God. When Moses returned to Egypt to deliver the Hebrews from slavery, they balked at leaving Egypt. It took forceful divine persuasion to initiate their exodus. Once they crossed the Red Sea, they again balked against entering into the promised land, and would not enter in. It took 40 years of wandering in their halt condition to enter into the promised land. They limped in the wilderness for 40 years because of their disobedience to Jehovah, and today, Israel is still limping through history. She has refused her Messiah, the Lord of glory the Lord Jesus Christ, but soon her eyes will be opened, and as a nation she will look upon Him whom she has pierced, and will receive Him in all His glory, and will pass through that Beautiful Gate.
On the other side of the Beautiful Gate the man leaped for joy, his burden was gone and he was allowed into the house of God. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, (John Chapter 9) and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5, 6) Israel’s lameness will be healed by the name which is above every name: the name of Jesus Christ.
His Work: Untarnished: Perfect
The work that we do in God’s determinate counsels and through the grand plan of salvation must be to the glory of the Son of God, both to His name and in His name. We should treat the work that He has entrusted to us as a fine jewel of great price. We should keep the work of our blessed Lord untarnished from the world. The Lord Jesus affirmed that He was here upon this earth to do the works and will of the Father, and to complete the divine plan of God. For the Father had sent Him into the world, the Father had given His Son to do the works of God.
Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:28-29)
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:3-4)
Even when the Lord Jesus was in this world, and among the children of Israel, they persecuted Him in every way. They denied His divine birth, by expounding that He was born in fornication. They denied His great power when the Lord Jesus proclaimed to them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? (John 10:32) The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. (John 10:33)
Just for our calculus minds, in the gospel of John, the word ‘work’ appears in 9 verses, however, the total number is 10 for it appears twice in John 9:4. The word ‘works’ appears 19 times in the gospel of John in 16 verses. It is mentioned twice in John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. connecting the Savior’s work with the works of those who follow Him, and this connects us to the work of Peter with the lame man, and our verse in Hebrews 6:10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
How to Approach the Work of the Lord
Let’s journey now into our own hearts. How do we approach the work of the Lord? Do we allow the Spirit of God, who worked through Peter, to work in us? And to reveal in us the work that Christ has sent us to do, and to do these works in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 6 it is the work done unto His name, and of course, for His glory.
What Motivates Our Work for the Lord
Let us travel even deeper into our own hearts. What motivates us in the work of the Lord? Is it our flesh, or is it the Spirit of God through grace? Is it the acclamations from men, for no matter how small the praise, if we are searching for this from men, then we are on the wrong path of faith and grace. The praise of men can be detrimental to the work of the Lord. Examine everything with the Spirit of grace and truth. Every word that is given must come from above. Although the world and the religious system will not accept us, we, as the servants of Christ, must speak the words of Christ and not our own words. But now, we must go deeper into our own hearts: prayer leads to work, and work leads to prayer. A circular motion of the Spirit of God working in us that cannot be broken. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name.
It is in the name of the Lord Jesus that we go forth in and by His name. We speak in the name of the Lord Jesus, and we have compassion in that same name. We turn from an evil world by that name. And it is in that name that we find our rest and peace. And we could go on and on of the many blessings that we receive from the Lord Jesus Christ. Examine Peter’s command to the lame man in Acts 3:6, 7. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Peter was not motivated by self; he was motivated by the Spirit of God. There was no earthly treasure or possession involved. No matter how little mammon creeps in, it is mammon, greed and riches that have blinded many in their work. They may have started right, but they finished poorly, like Asa who was diseased in his feet, and thus his walk was affected. As Paul said to the Galatians in Chapter 5:7, Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Paul gives us a principle, and this is taking our eyes, our minds, our hearts, our soul and spirit off the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus. When man gives way to popularity or riches or self, he will take his eyes off the poor lame man, and the sinners of this world. He will not remember the reason he was called to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The servant of God is called to glorify the Person of Christ, and eyes must be on the high calling of Christ Jesus.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3:12-17)
The apostle Paul, through the Spirit of God, left us this passage in God’s eternal word so that we would lay hold of this high calling of Christ Jesus; who is made higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26) For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; We, as the children of God, have been brought into God’s house, the eternal house which is in Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 3:6) But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. In this house (not made with hands) we are joint heirs with Christ. And because we are heirs, we have a godly responsibility to the work of God, and that work must be done and in His holy and righteous name. Notice that Peter reached down to the man, And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: Should we ourselves not reach down out of heaven to mankind. How can this be? Part of your salvation is that you have been translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:12-13)
Ambassadors
As the ambassadors of Christ, we are sent into this present evil world. Christ brought everything of the power of heaven into the world to redeem man. He left this world with scars in his hands, feet, and side. When He returned to heaven He bore the wounds of suffering that He had obtained at the hands of sinful men in His own body. They had crucified the Prince of life. And the only thing Adam’s fallen race could send to heaven was the result of Adam’s work done in Adam’s name. They (the Jews) boasted of how they were the children of Abraham, and the followers of Moses and the prophets, but their true father was the old Serpent, the Devil. And the works that they did was the evidence of their evil father, for he (the Devil) was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. In the words of the Lord Jesus, what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? (Luke 9:25)
What will a man give in exchange for his soul? It would amaze you how little that men value their own souls. They will sell their souls for the riches and power of the world; or for one shot of heroin, or for a few morsels of bread, they will sell their soul for a cheap bottle of wine, or to betray a friend. They will sell their soul by stealing from their own parents, lie to obtain a position, turn one’s heart from helping another, and they will lust for power over others; they would rather do the work of the devil and give homage to his unholy and unrighteous name. But for us who love the Lord we should never forget that God is not unrighteous to forget our work and labor of love to His name. (Hebrews 6:10) The true work of God must be done in the power of His name, and for that wonderful name that is above every name. Christ proclaimed to His disciples, and to us, that it is He who has sent us into this world. As He was sent of the Father, He affirmed, even so send I you. This gives us much to think about in prayer and through the unction of God the Holy Spirit. One must give up the riches of this world to obtain the unsearchable riches of Christ. :8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; (Ephesians 3:8)
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:16-21)
The unsearchable riches of Christ are just that, they are so vast that one cannot even imagine the wonder of those riches that will be revealed in us. And even now we have been given a witness (the Spirit of God within us) revealing the glories and the riches of Christ Himself. As we look upon Him, and as we serve Him, we serve Him and labor for Him according to His glorious name. If I may take a small liberty, the Lord of lords; Jesus, the King of kings; Christ; the complete righteousness of God, the Lord Jesus Christ
For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10)
Even so, send I you.
Amen.
© Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)