Jesus Commands Us to G.R.O.W.

Scripture: I Corinthians 3:6-9

C.I.: Work with God

Today we conclude our series of lessons entitled, “Jesus Commands Us to G.R.O.W.” – So far we have seen…
In our Scripture Reading Paul says, “For we are God's fellow workers.” – Therefore, we and God are working together.
If we are going to have success in growing the church – then we better understand what God expects of His fellow-workers!

I. Working Together with God

•  Working with God the Father

1. God's people have always been more successful – when they have gone forward on their knees.
a. ( Jn. 4:35; Lk. 10:2 ), “Do not say, ‘Yet 4 months…, Behold, I say…” - And He was saying to them, ‘The harvest is
plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'”
1) Notice that it is the laborers (and not spectators) who are called to pray!
2) The prayer is not for “easier” labor – but for more who would be willing to enter into His work!

2. Let us note that - when God's people devote themselves to prayer & outreach – they are always successful!!!
a. ( Acts 1:14; 2:40-41 ), “These all with one mind were devoting themselves to prayer … With many other words Peter
solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, ‘Be saved…!' – Then those who had received his words….”
1) For 10 days the small group of disciples devoted themselves to prayer – 10 days later, 3,000 souls!

b. ( Acts 6:1a, 4 ), “Now at that time while the disciples were increasing in number … ‘We will devote ourselves to the
ministry of the word [preaching & teaching] and to prayer!'”
1) Why was the church growing “increasing in number” ? – Because they were teaching & praying!!!
2) God's fellow workers are people who come to Him in prayer & share their faith with others!

c. ( Acts 13:1-3 ), “Now there were at Antioch, at the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas and Simeon who
was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. – And
while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work
to which I hhave called them.' – Then when they had fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them out.”
1) When God wanted to send missionaries out into the world – He chose a church where there were a people of prayer
2) In each of these cases the church was growing – and in each of these cases the people were PRAYING!!!

3. It is when we “work together with God” (prayer & outreach) – that we glorify God & show ourselves to be His people!
a. ( Jn. 15:7-8 ), “If you abide in Me (Jesus), and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.-
By this is My Father glorified, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, and so prove to be My disciples.”
1) Notice that when we begin with prayer ( “ask anything…” ) – we end with a harvest ( “bear fruit” ).
2) The purpose of life for a Christian – is to glorify God! – Now we understand what it takes to do that!!!

•  Working with God the Son

1. We need to become what Jesus wants us to make of others.

a. ( Matt. 28:19-20 ), “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name… teaching them….”
1) What Jesus commands us to do, i.e., “make disciples” – is what we ourselves must be; “teaching them….”
2) Most of you have heard me say before – that a good synonym for a disciple is an apprentice (explain).
3) So as we go forth to “make disciples” of others – we must exemplify these qualities in our own lives.


b. What it means to be a disciple of Jesus – in our relationships…
1) ( Lk. 14:26 ), “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and
brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
a) In a parallel passage it reads, “He who loves father or mother more than Me..,” ( Matt. 10:37 ).
b) Therefore, we cannot be a disciple of Jesus – if we put our relationship w/them before Jesus!

c. What it means to be a disciple of Jesus – in our lifestyle…
1) ( Lk. 14:27 ), “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.”
a) The cross was an instrument of shame & death!
b) So, if we are ashamed of Jesus or if we are too afraid of daily following Him – we cannot…!
2) Jesus had earlier said, ( Lk. 9:23 ), “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily , and follow Me.”
a) As we said last week, - unless we have “lost our marbles” – everyday we must live for Jesus!
b) This is a lifestyle choice – that comes with being a disciple of Jesus!

d. Thus, being disciples and then “making disciples” - becomes the purpose that drives our lives!
1) ( I Pt. 4:11 ), “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, as the utterances of God;- whoever serves, let him do so
by the strength that God supplies;- so that in all things God may be glorified through Christ Jesus.”
2) Thus, as we glorify God by bearing fruit – we also glory God through Jesus – as we both speak for Him
and serve others in His name!
3) Clearly Jesus is working with us, as we, “…make disciples…I will be with you always….” ( Matt. 28:19f ).

C. Working with God the Holy Spirit

1. It is the Holy Spirit who “helps” us be successful when we are reaching out to others.
a. Today, people receive the Holy Spirit – at the moment of their salvation, ( quote Rom. 8:9; Acts 5:32; 2:38 ).
1) Without Him we don't belong to Christ, ( Rom. 8:9 ), “If anyone does not have the Spirit, he doesn't belong…
2) ( Acts 5:32; 2:38 ), “We are witnesses…” – “Repent, and let each of you be baptized… gift of the Holy Spirit.”

b. The purpose we have the Spirit of God is to empower us to be successful for Jesus!
1) ( Eph. 3:16, 20 ), “That God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
power through His Spirit in the inner man … Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all….”
2) This power is made available to every believer – when we are “filled with the Holy Spirit,” Eph. 5:18 .
3) “Filled” = Focus our minds & obey, “The person who is according to the flesh, sets their minds…,” Rom. 8:5
4) The Apostle Peter, who feared the Sanhedrin Council, is able to overcome his fear when he is filled,
( Acts 4:8, 12 13 ), “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people….' –
There is salvation in no one else, for…” – “ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and
understood that they were uneducated & untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as…”

c. Jesus declares we can see the effect of the Spirit in the life of others – when they accept His word & are saved!
1) ( Jn. 3:5-8 ), “Jesus said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born…. – That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
[physical birth] and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [spiritual birth] . – Do not marvel that I say to you,
“You must be born again.” – The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where
it is coming from or where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.'”
2) When a person believes God's words (as we speak/read them), the evidence is seen in their conversion.
3) ( I Pt. 1:23 ), “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, through the….”
CONCLUSION:

1. Believers work with the Father through prayer, the Son through discipleship, and the Spirit through the word & power!
2. Yet for us to call ourselves “fellow workers,” we need to be doing our part!
3. If you are one of our guests today… (I Pt. 1:23; Acts 2:38)!