Our God is a hardworking Being. He does not sleep nor slumber. He is still watching over His creation. He does not like lazy and indolence people as well.
In John 5:17, Jesus said that His Father still works, and so He was working too.
John 5:17
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
As Jesus worked here on earth, He worked tirelessly, especially as He knew that He had a short time stay.
John 9:4
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:the night cometh, when no man can work.
He also employed the help of people who worked with Him. He had twelve apostles and other disciples who He asked that they should become ‘fishers of men’ for Him.
While Jesus was seeking those that will work for and with Him, people on the other hand follow Jesus for different reasons.
Some followed Him to be delivered from sin;
some to gain understanding of eternity;
some to gain material possession and
some to even steal from Him.
In Luke 7:36-50, the bible says that while Jesus was seating at a meal at Simon house, a sinful woman knew about His visit and came to seek Jesus attention.
She finally got what she wanted as Jesus forgave her sins and delivered her from demonic oppression.
In John 6:5-13, the bible says that Jesus Christ was teaching in the wilderness from morning until evening, by evening the people were very hungry. Jesus asked the disciple to feed them, but there was nothing to feed such a number of people.
There was a little boy that came to hear Jesus speak that had a lunch pack, he was the one that surrendered his meal that Jesus used to feed possibly over 20,000 people.
It could be that someone else had more refreshment on them than the boy. It was the lad that surrendered his own. He later got 12 basket full of bread and fish in return.
In another development, in John 6:25-27, after the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 men, Jesus went to Capernaum. Not long after the multitude located him, they were telling Him how they had missed Him. He however told them that they were not seeking Him to hear His word, but because of the bread and fish they ate the day before.
Jesus had 12 apostles that stayed with Him. He chose them by Himself, but one became a son of devil. He actually was following Jesus because he knew he could steal from whatever people gave them. In John 12:1-6, we hear that he had been stealing from Jesus.
Four different scenarios and four type of followership.
We are here in church today as followers of Christ. What will distinguish us is why have we come?
Most of the time, we always look for what people can do for us, and what God can do for us. However, the message of God to us this first Sunday of the year is what can we do for Him in 2014?
In Acts 9: 1-6, as Jesus met Saul of Tarsus on the way to Damascus. After acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus, the first question he asked Jesus is ‘What will you have me to do?’
Acts 9:1-6
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 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. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
What will you do for God this year? What will you do to support His work on earth. What will you do to be a blessing to God’s kingdom in 2014?
God is seeking labourers to use their time, skill and other resources to work for Him. What will you do? Where will you come in?
Many of us do write down what we want God to do for us within a giving time.
He has asked us this morning to write down what we want to do for Him this year.
May God help us to do a His will in Jesus name.
Delivered on January 5, 2014 at the 2014 SPECIAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE