Many people work For God, but very few work With God. I believe the reason there are so many fractions in the church today, is because people, even ministers, are working For God & not With Him. He has called everyone one of us to work With Him and until we get that mindset, there will be division. If I cannot work with another Christian, no matter their doctrinal differences, then I have missed the mark! There will be no Unity in the Faith, Until we learn to work With God!
Matthew 12:28-30 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger-someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house. “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working WITH me is actually working against me.
Heretics and false prophets may claim to work For God, but they are definitely Not working With God.
Philippians 2:1-2 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly WITH each other, LOVING one another, and working together WITH ONE MIND and purpose.
It all comes down to LOVE, the LOVE of God, which far surpasses any human love!
John 14:12-14 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
We sell God short by working for Him, out of good hearts, and by not working With Him. It shouldn’t matter who does the work, as Paul says, but Whether God’s work, not Our work, is done…
1 Corinthians 15:10-11 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me— and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was NOT I, but God who was working THROUGH me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.
2 Corinthians 10:13-17 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has GIVEN us, which includes our working with you. We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:14-17 Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. You know that afterward, when he wanted his father’s blessing, he was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he begged with bitter tears.
We can Only attain this holy life, by working With God. When we try to do it on our own, we are sacrificing our own birthright.
James 3:13-18 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.
When we are working With God, he lavishes on us His Wisdom. There are so many things we cannot do without God, so why do we even try? I exhort you to call on God to work through you, so you may work With God and not just For Him. I pray that you are able to put aside anything you may be doing, even out of a caring heart, if it is not what God would have for you to do. Start each day by asking God how you could work with Him to bring about His plan for your life, and in essence, His plan for all.
Prayer: Father, I pray you will quicken me to your Spirit, so that I may work With you and in doing so, bring your Love and your hope to others. Help me know your will, and give me the courage even to walk on water, because I can only do this, by believing in you. Help me to face any calamity and any obstacle by knowing that you are working through me by your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
(My emphases in capitalization of Scripture.)
I leave you with this thought… when we are working With God, and come to maturity, we will have peace. We will be able to work alongside others, each doing the work that God intends for us to do, because we will all work together with God, accomplishing His will.
Ephesians 4:16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Katie Storme 