CO-WORKERS WITH GOD

CO-WORKERS WITH GOD

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:1-9)

• The church at Corinth was quarreling over human leaders (1 Corinthians 1:10-17).
• They were obviously thinking of these men more highly than they ought to think (Romans 12:3). This, however, does not keep us from being co-workers with God!
• From the very beginning God has chosen to work with mortal men. He permitted Adam, as you know, to work in the Garden of Eden and to take care of it (Genesis 2:15).
• God even allowed Adam to give names to every living creature (Genesis 2:19-20). Today the branch of science that gives names is called taxonomy. Adam was the world’s first scientist.
• Adam, however, was not God. He could plant and water a seed, but only God could make it grow.
• Paul and Apollos were like Adam. They could also plant and water the Gospel Seed, but only God could make it grow!
• The fact that the Corinthians were arguing over human leaders indicated that they were not mature. They were thinking like “mere infants.”
• Just think of it. When an infant is born it knows no one but it’s parents. An infant depends upon its parents before it even knows God exists. With maturity, they will learn about God.
• This explains why the Corinthians were divided! They were trusting in men ane had not yet matured to the point where they placed their complete trust in God.
• Paul and Apollos were human leaders who made mistakes. God, however, does not make mistakes!
• Jesus is God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). Consequently, Jesus Christ is the only foundation for our unity: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)
• Infants need of milk and not solid food. Immature Christians are also incapable of digesting deep spiritual truth!
• “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity.” (Hebrews 6:1)

THE HISTORY OF HUMAN INVOLVEMENT

• David G. Stephan, states in his Biographical Bible that there are 3,237 different individuals mentioned by name in the Bible. Many of these were godly men and women whom God called to be His “co-workers.”
• God’s first co-worker, of course, was Adam.
• The earth, though it is very small, is extremely important to God. In fact, God created the sun, moon, and stars to give light on the earth (Genesis 1:14-19).
• The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalms 19:1), but God only created man in His own image (Genesis 1:27).
• Further, God intended for men to rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living creature that moved on the ground (Genesis 1:28).
• It would indeed be strange if God created man in His own image and then didn’t want man to have fellowship with him.
• God loved Adam, and as we have said, He planted the Garden of Eden and told Adam to take care of it (Genesis 2:15).
• Obviously God could have taken care of the Garden by Himself, or assigned the work to angels, but like a loving Father He wanted His child Adam to be his “co-worker.”
• The honor of working with God was not just for Adam, it was for everyone!
• After man sinned, for example, the Lord promised that the “Seed” of the woman would crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). This means that God would involve humans in defeating the devil. 77 ancestors of Jesus are mentioned by name in Luke 3:23-38 and all were “co- workers” with God!
• THUS IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THE SEED OF WOMAN WOULD CRUSH SATAN’S HEAD. NOBODY EVER DREAMED, HOWEVER, THAT GOD HIMSELF WOULD COME TO EARTH AS A BABY IN THE MANGER AT BETHLEHEM! (1 PETER 1:10-12)
• Abraham was one of the many ancestors of Jesus (Luke 3:34). As you know, Abraham could plant a seed in the womb of his wife Sarah, but only God could make it grow. So His wife Sarah was barren until God miraculously allowed her to conceive Isaac.
• The miraculous birth of Isaac is an allegory of the New Covenant. Just as Isaac could not have been born without a miracle from God, neither can se be “born again” without a miracle from God (Galatians 4:21-31).
• Even though God is the primary power that will defeat Satan, God has still allowed men to to be involved in the historic struggle between good and evil!
• For example, God did not build an ark to save Noah’s family, He allowed Noah to do that. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)
• Noah was a “preacher of righteousness.” (2 Peter 2:5). God has called thousands of others like Noah to also be preachers of righteousness!
• After the descendants of Abraham had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years God chose to deliver them. He promised Abraham that He would do this (Genesis 15:13-14). God could have done this any way He wanted to, but He chose to allow a man named Moses to be is “co-worker.” As you know, God permitted Moses to play a part in every one of the ten plagues. Further, God did not even part the waters of the Red Sea until Moses raised his staff (Exodus 14:16).
• It is equally important to remember that when it was time for the Egyptian army to be drowned “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters will flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” (Exodus 14:26) It is obvious that Moses was God’s “co-worker.”
• Moses was not proud of what he had done, or claim that he had defeated the Egyptian army by himself. Moses knew that God was the One Who delivered His people from bondage. As proof of this Moses composed a song giving God the glory (see Exodus 15:1-18). This is the same song we will be singing giving glory to God when we get to heaven (Revelation 15:3-4).
• The wicked Amalekites were the first nation to attack Israel after they came out of Egypt (Exodus 17:8-13). Please note that God even allowed Moses to be His “co-worker” in defeating the Amalekites. You know the story. Moses stood on top of a hill with the staff of God in his hands. When Moses held up his hands the Israelites were winning, and when he lowered his hands the Amalekites were winning. So Aaron and Hur stood by the side of Moses and held up his hands until the Israelites gained the victory.
• Remember! “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

OBEDIENCE AND PRIDE

• “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
• Moses obeyed God but was never proud of his obedience. “Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)
• There are many Scriptures teaching that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6)
• Satan, as you know, was driven from heaven because of pride: “I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.” (Ezekiel 28:16-17)
• Saul was rejected as king of Israel because of his pride. First, Saul did not obey the commandments of God, and secondly he built a monument in his own honor (1 Samuel 15:10- 12). Saul, as you know, was rejected by God as king.
• God punished Nebuchadnezzar for his pride. God reduced him to living like an animal until he realized the sovereignty of God (Daniel 5:18-21).
• It is essential to not be proud and to understand that no one can be saved by his own works : “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
• Obedience, however, need not produce pride : “Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done
• everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10)
• It is wrong to believe that man can be save by his own good works, but it is equally wrong to believe that a man can be saved without obedience. No one can call Jesus Lord who does not do what Jesus commands (Matthew 7:21).
• Naaman the leper was commanded to “Wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (2 Kings 5:10) When this pagan obeyed God and was healed. Yet he never claimed that he had healed himself by his own works. Instead Naaman gave the glory to God and said: “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15)
• The period of Joshua and the Judges lasted 356 years. Here is a brief history showing how the Judges were co-workers with God: “Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the Lord relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them. But when the judge died, the people returned to ways even more corrupt than those of their ancestors, following other gods and serving and worshiping them. They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.” (Judges 2:18-19)
• Jericho was the first great city in the Promised Land to be conquered by Joshua. Again, Joshua was a co-worker with God: “Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.” (Joshua 6:2-5)
• Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were also co-workers with God. After God miraculously delivered them from the fiery furnace “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” (Daniel 3:28)
• Daniel was also a co-worker with God! Everyone knew that God had delivered him from the lion’s den. Consequently, King Darias wrote to all peoples of every language: “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:26-27)
• When Jesus met a man born blind He allowed him to play a small part in his healing. Jesus spat on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the blind man’s eyes, “Go, He told him, wash in the Pool of Siloam (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” (John 9:7) When the blind man obeyed he was healed, but he never believed he had healed himself! He knew that God ha healed him and believed that Jesus was a prophet of God (John 9:17).
• JUST BECAUSE YOU OBEY GOD DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO BRAG ABOUT OR THAT YOU SAVED YOURSELF BY YOUR OWN WORKS!
• In heaven: “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:10-11)

GOD CHOSE MEN TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

Jesus taught His disciples: “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:38). It is the eternal plan of God that men preach the gospel of the kingdom to the whole world (Matthew 24:14. The vast majority of people, as you know, are poor and uneducated. It has always been so, and perhaps always will be. It was these"common people" who followed Jesus and heard Him gladly (Lk. 12:37.) As shocking as it might seem, these are also the very people that Jesus chose to be His apostles. In spite of their limited learning, Jesus worked with them and guided them in the way that He wanted them to go. It boggles our mind that an Omniscient God would choose such unlettered peasants as His ambassadors to the world. His chosen apostles were void of earthly credentials. As peasants from Galilee, they had little or no opportunity for formal education. Consequently, they were victims of discrimination and ridicule. Their thick Galilean accent was easily recognizable(Matt.26:73.) Others considered them to be unlearned and ignorant (Acts 4:13.) Perhaps they were. Choosing such men, however, was not an accident. Jesus prayed all night before selecting His apostles (Lk.6:12.) It is obvious that God doest hings differently than men. Paul recognized this reality and wrote: “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

When Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee. Matthew wrote: “When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted” (Matthew 28:17) What did they doubt? They certainly did not doubt that Jesus was raised from the dead for they had been with the resurrected Christ for forty days (Acts 1:3). John wrote that they had heard him, seen him with their eyes, and touched him (1 John 1:1-4) At any time they could put their fingers in the nail prints and put their hands into his side (John 20:27). Certainly the disciples did not doubt that Jesus was risen from the dead! Perhaps they doubted their ability to go into all the world and preach the Gospel? Remember, these were unlettered men who had never traveled over a hundred miles from the place of their birth. The fact that they were to go into all the world was an overwhelming responsibility. Further, the fact that they were to be the foundation upon which the Household of God would be built was even more awesome (Ephesians 2:20). As far as we know their was no back up plan if they failed. Yes! Jesus promised to be with then, but still the success of God’s eternal plan was placed squarely upon their shoulders. No wonder they doubted!

Their commission to go into all the world is found in all four Gospels and also the book of Acts:

• “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
• “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16)
• “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45-49)
• “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)
• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

YOU CAN BE A CO-WORKER WITH GOD!

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

The Greek word translated as “weary” is “kopiao.” It is used 23 times in the N. T. Scriptures and means to work to the point of utter exhaustion. This is the word used by Peter in Luke 5:5 to explain to Jesus that they had “worked all night”! Peter was totally worn out. All who are “weary” are invited to take His yoke and work together with Him.

The Greek word translated as “burdened” is “phortizo”. This refers to a heavy burden. This word is only used two times in the N.T. Scriptures. It is used here in Matthew 11:28 and also in Luke 11:46. In Luke it refers to legalistic burden which no one could carry.

Please note that Jesus invites “all” who are “weary and burdened” to take His yoke and work with Him and learn from Him! You will not be alone in this yoke, however. Jesus will be in the yoke with you. You are invited to be a co-worker with God. Even though your body might get tired, the gentle Jesus will enable you to find “rest for your souls.” Remember, when Peter got into the yoke with Jesus he experienced a miracle and caught two boat loads of fish (Luke 5:6-7). He was tired physically but found rest for his soul!

There is an old tradition from the carpenter’s shop in Nazareth that Jesus made yokes that fit perfectly. That’s why Jesus promised that the yoke He designed for you would be “easy”. The Greek

word translated as “easy” is “chrestos”. This word is only found 7 times in the N.T. Scriptures and refers to that which is “kind, mild, and pleasant.” It is used in Ephesians 4:32 to describe the way we are to treat one another: “And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

“The way of transgressors is hard.” (Proverbs 13:15) but our yoke is easy and our burden is light. Our bodies may be tired, but Jesus gives us rest for our souls!

Whatever you plan to do with God, do it now! When you die it is too late to do anything!

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)