Comments on: The Lord of the Work

By: Allen R.

Allen R. — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 20:06:52 +0000

Thanks so much for sharing your excellent thoughts, Chip. If we look at the pattern of Jesus own life on the Earth, we see it is exactly as you say. We see Him in the garden of Gethsemane in prayer with the Father saying, “…not my will, but thine, be done” (Lk 22:42). He was almost at the end of His ministry on Earth. I personally feel He prayed that same prayer many times before that, just not written down, perhaps not in the hearing of the disciples. Not counting the resurrection and the 40 days He spent with His disciples afterward, going to the cross was the completion of His earthly ministry, an excruciating experience, the sacrifice beyond our total comprehension. His ministry also began with an excruciating experience; He was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” (Mt 4:1). He fasted 40 days. I don’t think it took Him 40 days to get hungry in the wilderness away from all civilization. He had victory over the devil and His own flesh from the beginning to the end of His time on Earth. He served His father above all things. The words I speak are not my words, they are my Father’s. The works I do are not my own, but my Father’s (paraphrasing). He was constantly in touch with His Father (and ours). As you said, He understood the God of the work was greater than the work itself. This was not a new thought to me. I don’t glory in the fact that I have continued in this understanding for many years. I am thankful that you have shared it here as that helps me understand we are brothers in the same struggle. My own prayer is that I can continue to pray, “not my will, but thine, be done,” esteeming my Heavenly Father above all things as Jesus did, as you are now teaching, realizing always that “I can of mine own self do nothing” (Jn 5:30). Prayers are with you, brother, and all who take your teachings here to heart. Thanks so much again for allowing our Heavenly Father to move through you and for giving Him the glory.

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 19:50:53 +0000

I agree Chip and The Lord showed this to me when I found myself in a job that I had no qualifications for and no natural skill for that particular work, it was right outside of my comfort zone! I learnt to depend totally on The Lord step by step day by day minute by minute and this work was completed on time and in a way that was so well executed it has left me in no doubt that I can do all things I am called to do when it is Christ that strengthens me but I put no confidence in the flesh. I think I am blessed because I don’t have any
strong natural talents that I can boast of so find depending on The Lord essential. It wasn’t always this way though and once I was a very strong and independent woman, however I now have a thorn in the flesh that has dealt with that nicely and I can thank the Lord for it now as I know in retrospect just how my independence was a hindrance to letting the Lord work through me and be Lord of the work. He will get the message through to us some way when we are open to Him. I can no longer standup unaided for longer than a few minutes at a time but that doesn’t matter because The Lord told me from now on (after retirement) all your work will be done on your knees!

Maranatha!

By: Kenneth Dawson

Kenneth Dawson — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 18:48:34 +0000

Once again your article is very timely for me–I am currently unemployed and am seaching for a job–my mother is in Daytona Beach,FL.–SHE IS 83 and might need me to move back to Florida–Do I stay in Tulsa and seek work or seek work in Florida–so I am doing applications on the internet for both places and waiting for my Lord to make the arrangements–I only want to be where Dad wants me and doing what He wants but I must be patient and wait for His prompting.

By: Regina

Regina — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 15:57:27 +0000

Beautifully written. Has me thinking, praying and opening my heart more to His way of things.

By: Mohandas

Mohandas — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 15:45:04 +0000

AMEN.. my dear bro.

By: Traci

Traci — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:23:16 +0000

“We need a little less gifted ness and a lot more brokenness.” That’s very insightful, Chip.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:20:40 +0000

Another excellent article.
The words that have been leaping out to me recently are “Separate unto Me”.
I really don’t know how to put this into words… But I’m discovering that when I am “kicking against the pricks”, I am usually angry at God. I am feeling frustrated, because I do not like what He is doing in my life. Yet after I have my temper tantrum, I come to the conclusion that He knows what He is doing, even though it doesn’t feel very good to me.
God is the one to “separate” us, even when we don’t want to be separated.
I take comfort in that, knowing that there is a purpose in all of this, although I don’t know what it is right now. I know He does.

By: G.Johnson

G.Johnson — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:36:27 +0000

I have seen this and believe it is so yet many contradict this truth. Lately I was asked to do adult bible study to help a friend (baptist minister) who is helping a small church for just a short time get on their feet after their pastor leaving. Anyway the friend is baptist and a firm believer in the Romans Road teaching and being commanded to go ye into all the world and preach the gospel. I know the Spirit has led me to only do what I see Father do and only say what he says. The minister challenges this and wants to do house to house, food for the hungry etc. I know I am going to have to gracefully bow out. I am very uncomfortable about this. Once I thought I need to be doing something like hospitals, nursing homes etc; for I was out of prison ministry at the time. I heard the Spirit speak “so you want to do a good thing do you”? very sarcastic. Well I said Lord are you being sarcastic, should I not be doing a good work some where? He replied, Do you want to do a good work or a God work? If it is a God work, you will wait on me to show you and send you and until then you will only wait on Me! He has no responsibility to confirm your word only HIS WORD! I have been so torn but I do feel like this baptist pastor is sincerely wrong but loves people and his heart wants to win souls for his crown as he puts it.