WORKERS TOGETHER WITH GOD

WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL

APRIL 26, 2021

TOPIC: WORKERS TOGETHER WITH GOD

BY T. O. BANSO 

“We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1 New King James Version).  

God is a worker. Jesus said in John 5:17, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (New King James Version). Being workers together with God means being God’s partners. The question is: which work are we partnering with God to do?

This is what Paul said: “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1 New King James Version).  What work did Paul join God to do? The answer is in 1 Corinthians 5:18: the ministry (work) of reconciliation – winning of souls and building up those saved.

1 Corinthians 5:18 says, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (New King James Version).  God has committed to us the word of reconciliation to preach (verse 9). Are you preaching the word of reconciliation to the world? Are you working with God to save souls and build up those who believe?

A church that is not involved in soul-winning and building up believers is not working with God. A church whose expenditure is not ultimately bringing souls into the kingdom of God and building them up is not working with God. Paul said, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9 New King James Version).

Jesus said to the original disciples and everyone who would believe later in Him to go into the world and preach the gospel – the message of reconciliation to the world (Mark 16:15). Verse 20 says the disciples went and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.

Jesus told a prospective disciple, who sought permission to first go and bury his father who didn’t seem to have died yet, “Let those who are spiritually dead care for their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach the coming of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60 New Living Translation). Acts 8:4 says the believers who were scattered as a result of the persecution of the church in Jerusalem preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

Paul said to Timothy to preach the Good News.  “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2a New King James Version). He also said about himself, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16 New King James Version).  Paul meant that he was under compulsion or compelled to preach the gospel.

As a believer, you are absolutely obligated (Amplified Bible) to preach the gospel. It’s not the duty of pastors alone. You must work together with God in winning souls and making them disciples. Are you working together with God? Before Jesus’ return – the rapture – one of the things that must happen is that the Good News must first be preached to all nations (Mark 13:10). Are you involved in this?

John 6:28-29 says, “They replied, ‘What does God want us to do?’ Jesus told them, ‘This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent’” (New Living Translation). In other words, Jesus said to the crowds that came in search of Him that they must be saved. Except anyone believes in Jesus, he cannot be saved.

On the Day of Pentecost, those who had listened to Peter’s message asked a similar question and Peter answered them. “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’ Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:37-38 New King James Version).

The New King James Version renders John 6:28-29 thus: “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” The work of God for those who are unsaved is to be saved. For those who are already saved, the work of God for them is to work towards the salvation of others – the ministry of reconciliation. This is the number one assignment/ mandate of the church. Every other thing we do must contribute significantly to performing this duty.

How to work together with God in soul-winning

1. By praying for the salvation of sinners. Pray that the Lord will send labourers to them. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38 New King James Version). Luke 10:2 says a similar thing. God, in answer to this prayer, will send soul winners to win the souls of people who may not respond to the message of salvation from your mouth.

2. By praying to the Lord to send labourers to specific persons you know are not saved. Mention them by name to the Lord. He will send soul winners to them. Their salvation may not happen immediately but make sure you continue to intercede for them. Be a watchman. Give God no rest until they’re saved (Isaiah 62:6-7).

3. By engaging in personal evangelism. Share the gospel verbally with sinners and give out Christian literature. Philip preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch and he was saved (Acts 8:26-38). Angels cannot preach the gospel; only human beings are permitted to. God desires all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). But somebody must preach to them for this to happen.

Romans 10:14 says, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (New King James Version). Be a preacher.

4. Be actively involved in digital evangelism. This is a modern form of evangelism, taking advantage of the ICT to reach many sinners who ordinarily will not allow you to stand before them to preach to you or collect from you Christian literature.

In their privacy, God can touch their hearts to read anointed Christian materials on the internet that He may use for their salvation. The world is a global village. You can reach people with the gospel anywhere they are. Prayerfully use the internet to preach the gospel for evangelism and discipleship.

5. By giving finances towards soul winning. You can give money to your church’s soul-winning programmes or give financial support to missionaries or Christian organizations involved in soul-winning. In Luke 8:2-3, the Bible mentions some women and many others not named who gave money to support the ministry of Jesus Christ.

6. By practicing lifestyle evangelism. This is in addition to the deliberate preaching of the gospel verbally or in writing. Lifestyle evangelism, a concept popularized in the 1990s, is the preaching of Christ by living a holy life and engaging in good works that will attract people to Christ. The early church did much of this. The early church appointed the seven deacons to be in charge of the daily distribution of food to the widows among the disciples (Acts 6:1-7). Acts 9:36 also records that Dorcas also called Tabitha was a woman full of good works and charitable deeds, taking care, especially of widows.

Believers must engage in good works in addition to preaching the word of God verbally or in writing. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (New King James Version). However, lifestyle evangelism is not a substitute for the sharing of the gospel with words of mouth or in writing.

Are you working together with God or you’re idle? Are you gathering with Him or you’re scattering? (Matthew 12:30). Be a kingdom worker. The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

TAKE ACTION!

If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.

Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.

I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for the privilege of working together with You.  I shall not be a loafer or be slothful; I shall work with You in winning souls and building them up. Holy Spirit, help me to preach the word and be ready in season and out of season  The harvest is plentiful, O Lord of the harvest, send out laborers into Your harvest.

(For about 600 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit  www.cedarministry.org).

T. O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org