The Lord’s Work – Part 48
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
How do we “be ready to” every good work?
It is by the understanding of the mind.
This is the only other instance of “be ready to” in the Bible:
Isaiah 32:4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
It is by what you understand and what you are ready to speak. Believe and confess. Believe and speak.
To give, to distribute to the poor and needy and to the brethren is a good work. But the carnal work is the figure of the true. In truth, a true good work, is to give understanding to the simple; to speak the gospel.
How do you prepare yourself unto every good work? Get wisdom. Understand knowledge. Then, you will be ready to speak it. Because speaking the knowledge of God (the gospel of Jesus Christ) is the true good work.
“be ready” appears 3 other times in the NT.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
How can you be ready – be ready ALWAYS to give an answer?
You have to prepare the answer ahead of time. And the hope that is in you is nothing other than the promise of eternal life we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
To “be ready” is to prepare yourself with the gospel, and with wisdom and understanding… so that you already have the answers to the questions.
To be ready to every good work, one must be ready to GIVE the gospel. Because that is the true good work. GIVING the necessary things of life to the brethren and to strangers.
And that is the usage of the remaining 2 appearances of “be ready”:
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
To “be ready”, is to be ready to give. Obviously these were carnal things, the shadow of the true. True giving is giving understanding, the words of eternal life.
To “be ready” in this passage, is to have already collected up, laid up the offering. And as soon as the saints come, its theirs. Its there, its ready, its set aside for the brethren, for the Lord.
Whatever things they are, whether its food, clothing, money, etc. It needs to be already stored up, set aside for distribution to the brethren. This is being ready. Being ready to distribute.
Since the true things are the spiritual things, we’re talking about preparing ourselves ahead of time with wisdom, knowledge and truth. Those are the Lord’s things that we are stewards of, which we need to be ready to give. We’re talking about doctrine, faith, and spiritual strength.
The true good works are to save men with the word of God and build men up with the word of God.
We need to prepare ourselves with the word of God beforehand. Don’t try to collect it up when it is time to give it. It needs to be READY, already.
We should be READY (able/prepared) to work good. We should be ready with the gospel to distribute, to work good unto men.
How do we be fruitful in every good work?
Colossians 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 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;
How do we be fruitful in every good work? With wisdom and spiritual understanding.
In all wisdom and spiritual understanding, and in the knowledge of His will, this is how we are to work/walk. It doesn’t matter how fired up you are, it doesn’t matter how sincere your motivation is. If you don’t understand how to do good works, if you don’t know what His will IS, then you have no chance of doing a good work.
Without wisdom and understanding, you will work and walk, but without being fruitful.
This is the only way to make a good work. This is the only way to make a good thing.. by wisdom.
Spiritual fruit is (1) wisdom / words, (2) people. A fruitful Christian will increase in both.
There are “good works” that can be done in the flesh. But carnal works are not fruitful to God. They bring Him no increase. God is not served with men’s hands. We can’t give carnal things and receive a spiritual reward / spiritual fruit. We have to take God’s things, and increase them. This is bringing forth fruit. This is profiting God. This is doing a good work. And what is it we are supposed to increase?
The parable of the talents.
Matthew 25:14-29 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
This parable teaches that we ought to use the things God gives each of us (His goods, His money) faithfully, to increase HIS things; to make fruit; a profit. But what are these things? How do we know what these talents are? What are the things that we’ve been given, which we better not hide in the earth, but rather use faithfully and increase?
Remember.. this isn’t about man’s money. Its about God’s money. What is God’s money?
This last phrase is used 5 times in Scripture. Once here and once in the very similar “parable of the pounds” in Luke 19. That leaves 3 other places in Scripture. These three passages explain exactly what this parable is about.
Luke 8:17-18 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Mark 4:23-25 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Matthew 13:11-12 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Did you get it? Did you hear the answer? Let’s try again…
Luke 8:17-18 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Mark 4:23-25 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Matthew 13:11-12 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
The talents and pounds are the secrets of the gospel, the mysteries of salvation doctrine.
If you HEAR them, understand them, believe them… He will give you more understanding . If you do NOT HEAR them, if you don’t understand them, He will take away what little understanding you have. He will take away His WORDS, your understanding of His words, entirely.
The parable is about how you handle His words; the gospel. About whether or not you hear doctrine. Knowledge. Understanding. His secrets. It is about whether a man receives the mysteries of the word of God, or no. The parable is not about man’s things, carnal things (skills, abilities, money, etc.). Its about the Lord’s money. And the Lord’s money is His truth; His wisdom.
Matthew 25:14 … delivered unto them his goods.
Those that use His goods to increase the Lord’s substance will hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Those that bring forth no increase of the Lord’s things (His words), but hide them, waste them, cover them with dirt, in flesh, in earthly, carnal things… they will hear “Thou wicked and slothful servant”.
I think hiding the Lord’s money in the earth, is taking the name and gospel of Jesus (the hidden things, now revealed to the sons of men, given to all men to understand) and corrupting it with works of the flesh. I think these are those that “hold the truth in unrighteousness”. What is the increase they bring forth? Nothing but dirt.
A good work is to be faithful with the Lord’s things, not with our own things. What is the Lord’s most valuable thing?
Proverbs 4:5-8 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom, and give wisdom.
If you are faithful with HIS things, He will give you that which is your own things.
Luke 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
If you are faithful with His money (His words) He will give you your own money (eternal riches).
Those carnal works are the figures of the true good works. True good works, which God does require, can only be done in the Spirit, in Christ.
The pattern of good works can be done carnally, and we SHOULD do them. However, we don’t HAVE to. We should clean the outside of the cup, but we don’t HAVE to. It’s the inner part that is required to be cleaned. The Lord will clean the outside of the cup like He cleaned the inside.
True good works are done spiritually, and we MUST do them. And if we’ve been saved by the truth, we have done them already. Furthermore, we continually do them when we get wisdom and give wisdom. When we search the scriptures to understand His secrets.
Good works are done spiritually! THE TRUE worshippers worship in SPIRIT, and in truth. The true worshippers worship in truth, not in carnal figures. The true worshippers do good works in truth, WITH the truth. They USE the truth to FIND or CREATE more truth.
May 1 2022
The Lord’s Work – Part 48
Downloadable Word document:
The Lord’s Work – Part 48
The Lord’s Work – Part 48
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
How do we “be ready to” every good work?
It is by the understanding of the mind.
This is the only other instance of “be ready to” in the Bible:
Isaiah 32:4 The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
It is by what you understand and what you are ready to speak. Believe and confess. Believe and speak.
To give, to distribute to the poor and needy and to the brethren is a good work. But the carnal work is the figure of the true. In truth, a true good work, is to give understanding to the simple; to speak the gospel.
How do you prepare yourself unto every good work? Get wisdom. Understand knowledge. Then, you will be ready to speak it. Because speaking the knowledge of God (the gospel of Jesus Christ) is the true good work.
“be ready” appears 3 other times in the NT.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
How can you be ready – be ready ALWAYS to give an answer?
You have to prepare the answer ahead of time. And the hope that is in you is nothing other than the promise of eternal life we have in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
To “be ready” is to prepare yourself with the gospel, and with wisdom and understanding… so that you already have the answers to the questions.
To be ready to every good work, one must be ready to GIVE the gospel. Because that is the true good work. GIVING the necessary things of life to the brethren and to strangers.
And that is the usage of the remaining 2 appearances of “be ready”:
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
To “be ready”, is to be ready to give. Obviously these were carnal things, the shadow of the true. True giving is giving understanding, the words of eternal life.
To “be ready” in this passage, is to have already collected up, laid up the offering. And as soon as the saints come, its theirs. Its there, its ready, its set aside for the brethren, for the Lord.
Whatever things they are, whether its food, clothing, money, etc. It needs to be already stored up, set aside for distribution to the brethren. This is being ready. Being ready to distribute.
Since the true things are the spiritual things, we’re talking about preparing ourselves ahead of time with wisdom, knowledge and truth. Those are the Lord’s things that we are stewards of, which we need to be ready to give. We’re talking about doctrine, faith, and spiritual strength.
The true good works are to save men with the word of God and build men up with the word of God.
We need to prepare ourselves with the word of God beforehand. Don’t try to collect it up when it is time to give it. It needs to be READY, already.
We should be READY (able/prepared) to work good. We should be ready with the gospel to distribute, to work good unto men.
How do we be fruitful in every good work?
Colossians 1:9-10 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 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;
How do we be fruitful in every good work? With wisdom and spiritual understanding.
In all wisdom and spiritual understanding, and in the knowledge of His will, this is how we are to work/walk. It doesn’t matter how fired up you are, it doesn’t matter how sincere your motivation is. If you don’t understand how to do good works, if you don’t know what His will IS, then you have no chance of doing a good work.
Without wisdom and understanding, you will work and walk, but without being fruitful.
This is the only way to make a good work. This is the only way to make a good thing.. by wisdom.
Spiritual fruit is (1) wisdom / words, (2) people. A fruitful Christian will increase in both.
There are “good works” that can be done in the flesh. But carnal works are not fruitful to God. They bring Him no increase. God is not served with men’s hands. We can’t give carnal things and receive a spiritual reward / spiritual fruit. We have to take God’s things, and increase them. This is bringing forth fruit. This is profiting God. This is doing a good work. And what is it we are supposed to increase?
The parable of the talents.
Matthew 25:14-29 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
This parable teaches that we ought to use the things God gives each of us (His goods, His money) faithfully, to increase HIS things; to make fruit; a profit. But what are these things? How do we know what these talents are? What are the things that we’ve been given, which we better not hide in the earth, but rather use faithfully and increase?
Remember.. this isn’t about man’s money. Its about God’s money. What is God’s money?
This last phrase is used 5 times in Scripture. Once here and once in the very similar “parable of the pounds” in Luke 19. That leaves 3 other places in Scripture. These three passages explain exactly what this parable is about.
Luke 8:17-18 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Mark 4:23-25 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Matthew 13:11-12 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Did you get it? Did you hear the answer? Let’s try again…
Luke 8:17-18 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. 18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Mark 4:23-25 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
Matthew 13:11-12 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
The talents and pounds are the secrets of the gospel, the mysteries of salvation doctrine.
If you HEAR them, understand them, believe them… He will give you more understanding . If you do NOT HEAR them, if you don’t understand them, He will take away what little understanding you have. He will take away His WORDS, your understanding of His words, entirely.
The parable is about how you handle His words; the gospel. About whether or not you hear doctrine. Knowledge. Understanding. His secrets. It is about whether a man receives the mysteries of the word of God, or no. The parable is not about man’s things, carnal things (skills, abilities, money, etc.). Its about the Lord’s money. And the Lord’s money is His truth; His wisdom.
Matthew 25:14 … delivered unto them his goods.
Those that use His goods to increase the Lord’s substance will hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Those that bring forth no increase of the Lord’s things (His words), but hide them, waste them, cover them with dirt, in flesh, in earthly, carnal things… they will hear “Thou wicked and slothful servant”.
I think hiding the Lord’s money in the earth, is taking the name and gospel of Jesus (the hidden things, now revealed to the sons of men, given to all men to understand) and corrupting it with works of the flesh. I think these are those that “hold the truth in unrighteousness”. What is the increase they bring forth? Nothing but dirt.
A good work is to be faithful with the Lord’s things, not with our own things. What is the Lord’s most valuable thing?
Proverbs 4:5-8 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom, and give wisdom.
If you are faithful with HIS things, He will give you that which is your own things.
Luke 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
If you are faithful with His money (His words) He will give you your own money (eternal riches).
Those carnal works are the figures of the true good works. True good works, which God does require, can only be done in the Spirit, in Christ.
The pattern of good works can be done carnally, and we SHOULD do them. However, we don’t HAVE to. We should clean the outside of the cup, but we don’t HAVE to. It’s the inner part that is required to be cleaned. The Lord will clean the outside of the cup like He cleaned the inside.
True good works are done spiritually, and we MUST do them. And if we’ve been saved by the truth, we have done them already. Furthermore, we continually do them when we get wisdom and give wisdom. When we search the scriptures to understand His secrets.
Good works are done spiritually! THE TRUE worshippers worship in SPIRIT, and in truth. The true worshippers worship in truth, not in carnal figures. The true worshippers do good works in truth, WITH the truth. They USE the truth to FIND or CREATE more truth.
By Pastor • Christian Doctrine, Good Works • 0