Why Good Works Matter EVEN MORE Today

Why do good works matter even more today? Jesus said,  "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." What does good works look like in the day-to-day of every day? Why is so critical we get it right NOW? Let's see if we can have God's input on these questions and more.

This is a message spoken in 2021 as we were tentatively coming out of the pandemic.

Trevor H Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com Subscribe and set notifications on https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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Why GOOD WORKS Matter EVEN More Today Notes

All of us in life emphasize different things at different times.

I want to show you that emphasis matters. Here’s a sentence where each word emphasized makes a different meaning of the sentence.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

I didn’t say we should kill him.

Problem

Emphasis matters and in the church in the pandemic, we’ve emphasized the obvious.

But we’ve de-emphasized the significant.

We’ve emphasized meeting together and how to do that safely.

We’ve de-emphasized the reason we shouldn’t stop meeting together.

Pastor Shawn did a wonderful job a few weeks ago know now to remind us about WHY it’s important we still do community. But did we really catch it?

The WHY we meet together is so that we can motivate one another towards love and good works.

Hebrews 10:23-24 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Why is this so important?

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Does this really matter?

I made a statement in an online meeting in the past couple of weeks. It was kind of in the middle of rant. I was lamenting how NO ONE is lamenting the loss of our ability to serve one another in love.

I heard myself saying, “If a church can’t learn how to DO service during the pandemic, if all they are concerned about is HAVING a service during the pandemic, then I don’t think they should open their doors AFTER the pandemic.”

“If a church can’t learn how to DO service during the pandemic, if all they are concerned about is HAVING a service during the pandemic, then I don’t think they should open their doors AFTER the pandemic.”

Does this matter? We can’t miss this.

We can’t put off doing acts of love and good works until all this is past. We can’t put off being Christian until we can once again be comfortable being Christian.

I know this from history. This isn’t the first pandemic the church has faced. There was one that happened in even more trying times.

The Story

There was civil unrest in Alexandria in 248 and the mob took out their frustration with a brutal anti-Christian rampage. Dionysius had just been named the Bishop in Alexandria less than a year before. Emperor Decius began a formal persecution of Christians and in 250 and Dionysius had to leave the city. He returned after the formal persecution ended but in 252 an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria.

Dionysius 190 - 265 AD Alexandria

During plague time, the pagans “Pushed the sufferers away and fled from their dearest, throwing them into the roads before they were dead and treating unburied corpses as dirt.” Dionysius’s flock, however, heeded his call to take the opposite approach. “Most our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbours and accepting their pains.” It is noteworthy that Dionysius’ policy towards the stricken had results he could hardly have guessed. Historian Rodney Stark believes that the care offered by Christians may have cut the mortality rate by two-thirds or more and eventually led to a large number of conversions to this merciful creed. That, in turn, further secured Christianity’s place in society and history. Thus his church, under his direction, prospered in the face of an almost unspeakable calamity. By This Sign pp 33 - 34

We don’t live in a time or place where people are thrown into the streets.

We do live in a time where people are ignored and suffer in silence.

We live in a time where families who don’t have the tools to cope are imploding.

We live in a time when people who like to be alone have REALLY alone and I’m hearing it’s TOO MUCH.

We live in a time where businesses are failing and unemployment is not getting better and credit card debt is out of control.

We live in a time where health care workers can’t get away from the sickness and people making minimum wage are on the front lines serving whatever customers they have.

We can’t sit back and wait for it end.

Christ did not call us to hang on until the rapture.

People need the peace that we’ve been promised.

And we’ve been stuck on the questions:

• How can we safely gather together?
• How can we lay hands on the sick when we have to keep social distance?
• When will our rights be respected?

And Holy Spirit wants us to ask:

• How do I show to acts of love and good works?
• How do I let my light shine before people so they glorify God?

Listen…

You need to know the benefit we get as we serve others. We don’t serve others to get this benefit. We serve others because it pleases God when we serve one another in love. But you know, when you bless others you are blessed, when you refresh others you are refreshed. If you’re limited in your thinking because you don’t think you can bless and refresh others now, you need to watch this video clip from Simon Sinek on Service

{Show video - see above}

We don’t know the blessing we miss out on because we don’t extend ourselves to bless others.

We need to stop looking at the problems and start realizing God-in-us is the solution.

What if?

What if we got focused on the things that matter to God? Yes, we need to gather together - however we can gather together - BUT WE GATHER to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

What if it’s not about US as the church having an event, but it’s about you and me BEING the church in the day-to-day of our everyday?

What if people we connect with see us as the light of the world, that city on a hill, those people of peace who know how to really love?

A church that motivates one another to acts of love and good works is a bride who has made herself ready.

Imagine

Are you motivated to acts of love and good works?

Do you motivate others to acts of love and good works?

What would it be like to do acts of love and good works even in a pandemic?

Solution

HOW TO ALWAYS DO GOOD WORKS TOOL

A - Accept Holy Spirit’s Role - Philippians 1:6
L - Love Always - 1 Corinthians 16:14
W - Walk in the Light - John 16:13
A - Act like Jesus - Colossians 3:17
Y - Yearn to Flow - Ephesians 5:2
S - Surrender - 1 Peter 3:15

Let’s unpack this

A - Accept Holy Spirit’s Role

Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Am I doing good works in my own strength? Holy Spirit leads you Romans 8:14 , teaches you John 16:13, enables you Philippians 2:13 and empowers you accomplish every good work prompted by faith 2 Thessalonians 1:11

Hint - Don’t do acts of love and good works in your own strength and ability

L - Love Always

1 Corinthians 16:14 And do everything with love.

Am I really doing this out of love? Are you trying to compete or doing this because you deserve the attention?

Hint: If you’re doing it for any other reason than love, rethink your motivation before proceeding.

W - Walk in the Light

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.

Where is Holy Spirit leading me to serve? Coffee in cars, conversations over the fence, other…

Hint - As long as it depends on you, live at peace with all people. Don’t make others uncomfortable - ask.

A - Act like Jesus

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

How do I show Jesus and His love in…my phone calls, text messages, video calls, social media posts and in every interaction with everyone I meet, however I meet them?

Hint - Be authentic. This is not plastic Christianity. You cannot fake acts of love and good works.

Y - Yearn to Flow

Ephesians 5:2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.

Do I leave everyone a little more…happy, joyful, at peace, interested in Jesus?

Hint - Be so filled with Jesus He leaks out. Get so in love with Jesus people see Him when they see you.

S - Surrender

1 Peter 3:15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

What if I’m not ready to ALWAYS do Good Works? Confession is agreeing with God not obeying Him is sin. Repentance is changing your mind and behaviour to start obeying Him. Grace is Holy Spirit empowering you to do the things you can’t do on your own.

Hint - Ask for Holy Spirit’s help to start doing acts of love and good works today.

Challenge

1 Chronicles 12:32 (CEB) from Issachar, those who understood the times and what Israel should do

Will you be a person of Issachar? Will you understand the times and know what to do? Will you do acts of love and good works today? Will people see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven?

Jesus did not give us power and authority so we could sit in a pew and wait for the rapture - Bill Johnson

Good works matter Even more today

How will do acts of love and good works this week?

Can I pray for you?

How to add Goodness to Faith

We need to add Goodness to Faith. In this lesson we will explore practical ways to infuse our faith with goodness, cultivating a life that is pleasing to God and impactful to others. Learn more in the message “How to add Goodness to Faith”

Trevor Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Content Creator at https://revtrev.com Check out https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.

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Read how to add goodness to faith

Have you ever known someone who say they believe in God, but act like it doesn’t make a difference in their life?

If we look at the last 700 years of human history, after the black death in Europe where 90% of the clergy died. We see a church that taught faith was good enough. Good works were good enough, if it supported the church. The rest of doing good, didn’t really matter.

But we don’t have to look back 700 years. I suppose in all our lifetimes we’ve known people who were part of the church, who never wanted to let their light shine.

For example- I think it’s still true after Covid…Sundays are the worst experiences for servers because Christians who go out after church are demanding and lousy tippers.

They will know we are Christians by our love?

Faith is only as good was what you have faith in.

Faith is only as real as you add to it.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You don’t want to be ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of God.

You believe in God?

Great. You have knowledge of God. So do demons.

James 2:19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

The Problem with Goodness and Faith

Faith needs to lead to good action… We need to add to our faith goodness.

They had this problem back in the start of Christianity and so James addressed it in the early church… quite harshly. Let’s read the context of the verse we just read.

Before we do, can I pray?

What James says about goodness and faith

James 2:1-26 NLT My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives? Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear? Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Does this really matter?

You are the only Jesus some people may ever see. You need to add goodness to faith.

Takeaway Truth

“Faith without goodness is like a fruit tree without fruit.”

Faith and Goodness are part of the fruit Holy Spirit grows in us. We shouldn’t have one without the other.

It’s only by his power at work within us that we can add anything to faith. We have a role to play, but its not to take on a heavy yoke, it’s to live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit.

Imagine what it would be like to:

Imagine what it would be like if every believer added goodness to their faith. If we all lived out our faith by showing kindness, compassion, and love to those around us. The impact would be immeasurable. Lives would be transformed, hearts would be touched, and communities would be changed. We have the opportunity to be agents of God’s goodness in this world.

How do we add goodness to faith?

That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.

How to add Goodness to Faith Tool

This comes from the what Jesus taught us in the sermon on the mount Matthew 5

BLOOM

B - Be good because God is good.

L - Let them see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

O - Opt to be more like Jesus.

O - Operate in honesty.

M - Maintain your peace.

Let’s unpack this...

B - Be good because God is good.

Matthew 5:44-45 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbours and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

The problem with doing good is that it can make us look good. Then we need to discern if we’re doing good, just because it makes us look good, or we’re doing it because it makes God look good.

Jesus doesn’t leave that ambiguous. He tells us to do the counter-intuitive. Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. You don’t do that naturally - no one does that naturally. We do that as Holy Spirit prompts and empowers us to do that. And that means he looks good and we don’t.

We’re good like our father in heaven is good because he sends sun on the evil and good and sends rain on the just and unjust.

Am I good to look good or because God is good?

L - Let them see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

It’s in the same message that Jesus tells us that when we give to the needy we shouldn’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. (Matthew 6:3-4). We first hear him say, “Let them see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

What’s going on there?

When we’re giving, we need to have before we can give, so when we give, it’s us that has it. You can’t give what you don’t have. You can’t be a blessing without first being blessed.

That’s why we give in secret.

But he calls us the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”.

Wait a minute I thought he said HE was the light of the world? (John 8:12)

Yes he did.

We’re salt and light because of Christ in us.

It’s not us that needs to be seen, it’s Christ in us, the hope of glory.

You’re the only Jesus many people see.

Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their disbelief in God - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Does my life make non-believers question their disbelief in God?

O - Opt to be more like Jesus.

Mathew 5:21-26 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

The truth of the matter is we’ll all go through stuff where we can be offended. A lot of it is no fault of our own. Some of it we bring on ourselves. Jesus in these verses makes it clear we need to, as long as it depends on us, live at peace with everyone.

When the people who are closest to us - who we love and who love us - see that how we handled stuff before is not how we handle stuff now - they see Jesus and his goodness in us. That’s the transformation that those closest to us see.

Am I growing better or growing bitter?

O - Operate in honesty.

Matthew 5:33-37 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Are you known as an honest person? Are you known as a kind and honest person? No use being honest if you can’t be kind about it.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:15 NLT:

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church

To shine bright, like the moon - who reflects the light of the sun to the side of the world away from the sun - we need to be honest and authentic to who God made us to be. And always speak the truth in love.

Do other people say I’m honest?

M - Maintain your peace.

Matthew 5:38-42 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.

Your peace is too expensive to ever give up.

Peace comes from trusting God. (Romans 15:13) When we trust God is working all things together for good, we tend to do good to others.

I don’t know if we can add goodness to faith without peace that comes from trust.

Trust is so connected with faith. Our measure of faith is our measure of trust. The more we trust in God and his goodness, the more faith we have and the more goodness we can add to our faith.

The is no exaggerating this connection. We’re not good so we can look good, we’re good because we trust Him to be good and work all things together for the good.

The goodness in us that people need to see is the goodness of God reflected in us. You only reflect to the level at which you trust the source.

The bonus we get from trusting God is we have peace and hope and joy (Romans 15:13)

What are people drawn to in us? Peace, joy and hope.

Do people ask me about my peace, or joy or hope?

BLOOM

B - Be good because God is good.

Am I good to look good or because God is good?

L - Let them see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Does my life make non-believers question their disbelief in God?

O - Opt to be more like Jesus.

Am I growing better or growing bitter?

O - Operate in honesty.

Do other people say I’m honest?

M - Maintain your peace.

Do people ask me about my peace, or hope or joy?

Blessing - Livecast - Day 3 - May God make you holy…

The Blessing from the Book comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 today. It reminds us that God is the one who makes us holy. Sign up for the full course at http://revtrev.link/blessing #blessing #Bible #encourage #encouragement #hope #trust #faith

Watch Blessing from the Book - Day 3

You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation. Learn more http://revtrev.link/pathway

Verse

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (HCSB) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessing

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Reflection Question

Am I working with God or against Him to keep my spirit soul and body holy?

Can I pray for you?

Lord, I thank you that you care about our whole being. You want our spirit, soul and body to be kept holy and set apart for you. I thank you that it’s not about keeping a list of things to do and not do, but it’s about keeping in step with your Holy Spirit and only doing what we see you doing and only saying what we hear you saying. And thank you Holy Spirit for empowering us to do that. Amen.

If you want to get all of these Blessings From the Book sign up at http://revtrev.link/blessing

Blessing - Podcast - Day 3 - May God make you holy…

The Blessing from the Book comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:23 today. It reminds us that God is the one who makes us holy. Sign up for the full course at http://revtrev.link/blessing #blessing #Bible #encourage #encouragement #hope #trust #faith

Listen to Blessing from the Book - Day 3

Listen to more episodes and subscribe at https://revtrev.com/radio

You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. Sin came into the world and you bore the consequences. Jesus came and reversed the curse and took your place and invited you to take his yoke that is easy and his burden that is light. You are a child of God creation longs to be revealed. You are a living LIGHT. Don’t conform but be transformed, so you can have peace, and joy and hope at all times in every situation. Learn more http://revtrev.link/pathway

Verse

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (HCSB) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessing

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Reflection Question

Am I working with God or against Him to keep my spirit soul and body holy?

Can I pray for you?

Lord, I thank you that you care about our whole being. You want our spirit, soul and body to be kept holy and set apart for you. I thank you that it’s not about keeping a list of things to do and not do, but it’s about keeping in step with your Holy Spirit and only doing what we see you doing and only saying what we hear you saying. And thank you Holy Spirit for empowering us to do that. Amen.

If you want to get all of these Blessings From the Book sign up at http://revtrev.link/blessing