Week # 10 – Pray & Work

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

     Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

– 1 Corinthians 15:55-58 

Prayer Focus: 

     The reality of resurrection and God’s gift of eternal life is a powerful weapon against the threat of death!  Death threatens, “That’s all there is!  This is the end!  I win, you lose!”  The resurrection of our Lord Jesus declares, “There’s more!  The best is yet to come!  Those who believe in Me will never perish!”  And so, death has lost its sting and the grave has lost its victory, because everlasting life is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord!

     This reality should give us great courage and boldness to keep the faith, to pray and to labor – fully invested in the Lord’s work of truth!  Since we have resurrection victory, we are exhorted to stand firm, and not let anything move us.  There is nothing worse than work that has no meaning, no purpose and no reward.  Most of our labors in this life have no lasting reward, but the work of the Lord contains the best of all three (meaning, purpose & reward). 

       In John 18:37, Jesus announced one of the dimensions of His work.  He came to testify to the truth!  The TRUTH has great meaning and purpose.  Truth is eternal!  God’s Word is Truth!  We are sanctified by the Truth!  The Truth sets us free!  In fact, Jesus boldly declares, “I am the truth!” (John 14).  Oh what great meaning and purpose there is to labor for the Truth!

     Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, our Lord makes us aware that God rewards those who labor for His purposes.  Hebrews tells us that God rewards those that earnestly seek Him and believe the Truth about Him.  Jesus promises to reward each person according to his deeds (Matt. 16:27).  Paul reaffirms this truth in Eph. 6:8 – the Lord will reward each one for the good he has done.   In Colossians 3, we are encouraged to labor at whatever work we do, with all of our heart, as if we were working for the Lord, because we will receive an inheritance from Him as our reward.  And, in Revelation 22, Jesus tells us that He is coming soon, and He’s bringing His reward with Him.  He will give to each according to his work.

     And, finally, Paul asks everyone to join in prayer for him as he labors for Christ, so that his ministry will be bold and effective (Ephesians 6:19).  He understood the importance of Prayer and Work.  They go together.  Without prayer, all labor is vain and has no eternal meaning, purpose or reward.  So let us pray and work for the Kingdom of Truth!  Ora Et Labora!

Thursday:        

• Praise God for giving us the victory over the curse of death and the grave.
• Join our 6:00pm Thursday night prayer team (in prayer if not in person).         

Friday:             

• Ask God to give you courage and boldness to stand firm for the Truth.
• Pray for the Good News families of the week: Jacquie Compagnoni, Greg Conibear, Juan & Jennifer Davila (Ariana, Angelina, Gabriella).

Saturday:       

• Ask God to give you a greater understanding of and appreciation for His Truth

Sunday:          

• Pray for God to teach you how, where and when you can most effectively serve in His work.
• Join in with our Sunday prayer services to pray for God’s presence and blessing.

 Monday:         

• Pray for strength, wisdom and energizing from the Lord that will empower you to work for Him.
• Attend “In Touch” Prayer meeting at GNCC at 10:30am or join in prayer at that time.

 Tuesday:       

• Pray that God will give blessing to the labors we offer as we testify to the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday:   

• Pray that we all stand firm as we give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, and that we will remember that our labor is not in vain.