That They May See Your GOOD WORKS

 

THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR
GOOD WORKS

 

The Bible mentions Good Work(s) at least 28 times in the New Testament.

Jesus instructed us in Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Jesus said when people see our light shining and it reveals our GOOD WORKS that it will cause them to glorify our Heavenly Father.

 

Paul taught in 2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every GOOD WORK.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are to walk in Good Works.

 

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a GOOD WORK in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

God has BEGUN the Good Work in us.  It’s up to us to let Him continue that Good Work.  We have to stay moldable in His hands and allow Him to transform us into His image. 

 

Paul taught in Hebrews 13:21 – Make you perfect in every GOOD WORK to DO HIS WILL, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Doing HIS WILL, not our will.  We get that confused at times. 

Colossians 1:10 – That ye might walk worthy of the LORD unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every GOOD WORK, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

We are to be fruitful in every GOOD WORK and increase in the Knowledge of God.  That is why Church attendance is important.  That is why Bible studies are important.  That is why daily Bible reading is important.  That is why daily prayer time is important.  It is how we will increase in the Knowledge of God.

 

The Book of Titus instructs us twice to MAINTAIN Good Works:

Titus 3:8 – This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:14 – And let ours also learn to MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

 

Titus teaches us that we are to be a pattern (an example) of Good Works…. 

Titus 2:7 – In all things shewing thyself a pattern of GOOD WORKS: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

 

We are to be zealous of Good Works…

Titus 2:14 – Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purity unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of GOOD WORKS.

 

We should provoke others to be loving and exhibit Good Works….

Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and GOOD WORKS.

 

 

Jesus went around doing many GOOD WORKS – He healed the sick, raised the dead, delivered those who were bound and oppressed with unclean spirits, fed multitudes, and even called His betrayer ‘friend’ reaching one more time for His soul.

John 10:32 – Jesus answered them, Many GOOD WORKS have I shewed you from My Father; for which of those works do you stone Me?

John 10:33 – 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.

They didn’t mind Jesus doing things FOR them, but they did not want Him being Lord over them.   They wanted Him to be servant, but they did not want Him to be King.

 

Paul instructs Timothy concerning what some of the GOOD WORKS are that he is to instruct and look for concerning whether it was the Church’s responsibility to help provide for the widows.

First requirement was that she did not have family to take her in and care for her needs. (1 Timothy 5:4)  It must also be said of her that she….

1 Timothy 5:10 – Well reported of for GOOD WORKS; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have DILIGENTLY FOLLOWED EVERY GOOD WORK.

 

Paul explained to Timothy that some good works are easy to see:

1 Timothy 5:25 - Likewise also the GOOD WORKS of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

1 Timothy 6:18 – That they DO GOOD, that they BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

 

The book of Acts mentions a disciple of Jesus named Dorcas/Tabitha whose works were easy to see…. 

Acts 9:36 – Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of GOOD WORKS and almsdeeds which she did.

She was full of GOOD WORKS and was a giving person.  Many mourned when she passed away and showed off the clothes and coats she had sewn.  Peter prayed and God brought her back to life to continue the work she was doing.

While those present focused on her sewing skills and her generous heart, the greatest of all the works she did is mentioned in Acts chapter 9 verse 36 – she was a DISCIPLE.  Disciple means ‘pupil’.  Tabitha was a student of Jesus, studying and learning about His Word and His ways.

I’ve seen and heard the accolades given about those who have passed away: they were classy, they were talented, they were smart, they were pretty/handsome, they were creative, they were a good cook, they were a good mechanic or carpenter, and the list goes on.  But, to me, the greatest compliment a person could receive is that they were a disciple of Jesus. 

After my first husband passed away, I was sitting in Church service grieving.  My mind was still reeling with shock.  I opened my Bible and a verse literally jumped out at me:

Acts 11:24 – For he was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

I felt God was giving me comfort in my mourning so I placed it on his headstone.  While others see and are impressed by the skills or abilities of a person, God looks at what a person is doing FOR Him and what they’re doing to SERVE Him.

Can that Scripture be said about you? About me?  Will it be said that we are good (not doing that which is evil or immoral)?  Will it be said that we are FULL of the Holy Ghost? And that we’re FULL of faith? 

Will it be said that we have been a soul winner and led many to Christ?   Will there be anyone in heaven who will meet and greet us and thank us for inviting them to Church?  Will there be anyone who will say, “Because of you, I lived for Christ?”  Sombering to think about because that is the Great Commission Jesus gave to us – reach the lost.

Are we encouraging others to CLEAVE unto the Lord as Barnabas did? (vs 23)  Cleave means: to glue, to adhere, to join, to stick.  Merriam-Webster defines it the best: To adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly.  Are we exampling to others that we are CLEAVING, that we are sticking firmly and unwaveringly to the Lord? 

 

Some became upset when they saw Mary enter the house where Jesus was in Bethany and begin to pour ointment from her alabaster box onto Jesus’ head. They knew the box alone was made from a precious stone that could be dyed into any color or shape so it was costly.  They also knew that within that stone box was a highly valuable oil (Myrrh) that cost more than a year’s wages.

The disciples who sat with Him called it ‘a waste’ but Jesus rebuked them and called it a ‘Good Work’. 

Matthew 26:10 + Mark 14:6  – And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her?  she hath wrought a GOOD WORK on Me.

To others, the sacrifice cost far too much to be poured out like that.  To those standing by: it was not necessary to do all that for Jesus. But to Mary, who had been forgiven and set free from unclean spirits and infirmities (Luke 8:2), she was willing to sacrifice whatever she could for Jesus.  She did not withhold giving of her best just because others felt it was unnecessary and ‘a waste.’ 

Whatever you give up for Jesus is not a waste!  It matters not what others may say or how they feel about it.  It only matters what Jesus feels and thinks about it.  He called it a GOOD WORK.

 

Paul admonished Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:21 – If a man therefore purge himself from these (every sinful ways), he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified and meet for the Master’s use, and prepared unto every GOOD WORK.

 

Titus 1:16 warns – They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every GOOD WORK reprobate.

There are those who claim to know God yet their actions reveal otherwise.  They are disobedient to God’s Word and teachings.  Their ways are detestable and idolatrous.  Their works are unapproved and rejected by God.  That is what reprobate means.

 

Some will speak against you and call your works ‘evil’ –

1 Peter 2:12 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your GOOD WORKS, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

We are living in that day when good is called evil and evil is called good. 

But the Bible warns in Ecclesiastes 12:14 – For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.

What we do, what we say, what we think about, even what we post on social media sites – others see but also God sees.

 He said our works, whether good or evil, will be brought into Judgment. We will have to give account for it.  Are our words presenting a good witness?  Are our actions presenting a good witness?  The pictures or videos we post or things we share – what kind of witness are presenting?  Would Jesus post that?  Would He share that?  Is He pleased with it?  We’ll one day give account so make sure it has His approval.

 

What if none of this fits us and we think our works are good?  There’s one more area to examine…..

Jesus had John write letters to 7 churches which were in Asia.  Many received strong rebukes.  Ephesus probably thought they were doing very well, and they were in many areas….

Revelation 2:1-3 – I know thy WORKS, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for My Name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Revelation 2:4 – Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because THOU HAST LEFT THY FIRST LOVE.

Revelation 2:5 – Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and DO THE FIRST WORKS; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of this place, except thou repent.

They had everything right but they had grown slack and cold in their Bible reading and prayer time.  They may not have been straying but they were not praying like they did when they first received the Holy Ghost.  They were busy in the Kingdom but had grown slack in their time with the King of the Kingdom.

When we get this right, we’ll get the rest of it right. 

If you have slacked up on your Bible reading, start reading it again tonight. 

If you have slacked up on your prayer time, start tonight spending more time with the Savior.   

You may have to make yourself pray and read your Bible more.  But do it!

If you haven’t fasted in a while or maybe never, begin soon to deny the flesh of its wants and desires in order to submit your will to His will.

Pre-service prayer is a vital time before each Church service.  It’s the time when we declutter our mind from all the chaos of the morning or day and get our focus on the One who we gathered together to worship.   Pre-service prayer can make a difference on how you respond to the worship songs and preaching.

Titus cautioned to MAINTAIN these Good Works – because things will arise to distract and choke out our time with Jesus.  Maintaining takes work because it goes against the will of the flesh.  We can find all kinds of reasons as an excuse but Jesus warned that we have FALLEN if we have left our First Love (spending time with Him).

Fallen?  Yes, Jesus said we’ve fallen. Return to your First Love if you’ve fallen.  Work to maintain if you haven’t. 

Do all these other Good Works but don’t let the fire of the Holy Ghost dim or go out. Revive it through prayer and Bible reading so that our light will shine before men, that they may see our GOOD WORKS, and glorify our Father. Matthew 5:16