Understanding Our Role as Co-Laborers with Christ
We should know we are co-laborers with Jesus Christ (John 9). Anyone who received Jesus Christ must work for Him. You have been enlisted as a co-labourer with Jesus Christ on the day you give your life to Him. You have been employed to work for Jesus Christ. The Bible says God has given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). So, for everyone who is born again, you do not need to ask, “Whether I am called or not?”; as long as you are born again, you have been called to work for God, which is a work of reconciliation. Bringing people back to Jesus Christ, that is the work.
The Call to Reconciliation: A Divine Mandate
Therefore, when you are in this kingdom and not working for God, you are not fulfilling the Divine mandate. If anybody is employed in any company and refuses to work, the company will sack that person. You must rise and work for Jesus this year. Last year, many people were so lazy and so careless in the area of working for God. All they are after is God bless me, God bless my family, God give me this. There is no time that you lay down your self-ambition and pick up Heaven’s agenda in the place of working for God. And what you should know is that, there is a privilege to work for Jesus Christ. The Psalmist said I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:10).
The Urgency of Working for God
Working for God is a privilege and honour (Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 20:29). Thus, work for God when you have the strength because the night cometh when no man can walk. Now, it is as if people are begging you to work for God or come for workers training in the church, but when the chiefs are down, when the ninth season of your life comes, you will be looking for someone that will carry you to church, and you will not see one. During that time, to raise your legs will be a problem. Redeem the time now!
Jesus Christ: Our Perfect Example of Service
Jesus Christ is our perfect example. We must follow His pattern. In John 9:4, Jesus Christ says, “I must work the works of him that sent me.” That is a MUST as a follower of Jesus Christ; you must work for Him while you have the strength now, while you have the energy now, while you have the health now. That is the meaning of Jesus’ statement – while it is day.
The Importance of Prioritizing God’s Work
There are people who are lying down on the hospital bed saying, “God, if all you can give me is a second chance, let me put my leg on the ground, I will work for you”. Also, there are people who are crying in pain, saying, “God, if you can take away this pain from me, I will work for you.” So, if there is one decision you must take this year is to say, “Jesus Christ, your work first before my work” because Matthew 6:33 tells us so. Work for God first. In the book of Luke 2:41-49, Jesus Christ tarried behind in Jerusalem. It was like Him saying, “My parents, you can go. These three days are not enough for me; I need more.” The parents took three days looking for Him (Jesus Christ), and they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. Teenagers, what drives your passion? What drives your appetite now? It is a cell phone – “Mommy, buy me this phone! Mommy, buy me this phone! Mommy, buy me this phone! Mommy, I need a PlayStation 4 video game! I need a PlayStation 4 video game!” Not for anything meaningful like, “Mommy, buy me a good Bible”.
Jesus tarries behind, sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions. How many of you, after church service, have said, “I want to go and see Pastor because I want to ask Pastor questions based on today’s teaching. I want him to expand more things to me?” Instead, after service, you are looking for someone to hang around with to talk to and to discuss. At 12 years old, Jesus Christ tarried behind. The best gift you can give your children is to give them Jesus Christ so they can withstand anything that will come their way tomorrow, not giving them cell phones or the best clothes. The best clothes you are giving them can lead them to hellfire. Jesus Christ sat down, hearing the doctors and asking them questions at age 12.
Faithfulness in God’s Work: A Matter of Discipline
If there is one thing you must do this year, it is the work of Jesus Christ first before your work because your work cannot protect you from the arrows of the enemy, but the work of Jesus Christ can protect you. A minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not need to open his mouth and ask for security because as long as that portfolio has been given to him, the government will assign the Nigerian Mobile Police (MOPOL) and military to him based on what the constitution says. Anyone who releases himself and works for Jesus Christ has a level of angels assigned to protect him, but in your secular work, no angel is assigned to protect you.
If there is one thing you must do, do His work, and in doing His work, you must do it faithfully because there is a cost in doing it – discipline. Cause is it If you are doing God’s work but not doing it with all your heart (Jeremiah 48:10; Colossians 3:23-25). When you work for God, do it as unto the Lord because your reward comes from Him, not man. When people engage in eye service, they see the work of God as man’s work. Therefore, do anything you do in God’s kingdom, as unto the Lord, because man cannot reward you. I am a co-labourer the same way you are a co-labourer, only that I am privileged to be the lead person. My reward is based on how I handle the work. Let us assume that I am to minister this night, and I say, “I am tired, I will not minister”. The blessing will pass and go to the person who will minister.
You are being rewarded as you are, as you carry out the work of God faithfully from your heart. So when you understand that you are working for God, not for man, you will do it with all your heart. You serve the Lord Jesus Christ; you are not serving any man. When you come for mid-week church service, you are not doing it for anybody. In the same way, when you come for service on Sunday or any other service, you are not doing it for anybody but for Jesus Christ. It is for your good. If you do not do it, it is to your own detriment; if you do it, it is for your own good. Like I keep saying, you do not go to Heaven on behalf of anybody or go to hell on behalf of anybody. So when you are serving God, serve Him as unto the Lord; when you are working for Him, work it as unto the Lord, for you know you have a reward.
The Rewards of Diligently Working for God
In Romans 12:11, God advises we should not be slothful in business; but fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. In whose business? – in the business of God. Today, we see you in church; next tomorrow, we will not see you in church; this month, we will see you in church; the other month, we will not see you in church, doing the work of God as if it is a child’s play. The best place to work is in the Kingdom of God (Proverbs 22:29). By the special grace of God, one of our Nigerian gospel artists (Nathaniel Bassey), that we know very well, was among the people invited to the Trump Inauguration. Nathaniel Bassey was invited not because of his education. If you should ask Nathaniel Bassey, What did you study? Nobody knows what he studied in university. Do you know what he studied at university? No, we are not talking about that one, but his gift. His gift has taken him to the USA (not what he studied) to stand before who is who in this world, to minister and lift Jesus Christ high. When you abandon the work of God for the place of your work, you will be abandoned before men and before God. It is just a matter of time. Be wise.
God rewards (Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 11:6). So, God will never forget the level of your work and love; a reward is always attached to it. There is no how you will work for God diligently, without reward. You know, all these things we are saying, we are just showing you avenues that you can be blessed this year, ways that you can venture into, and you will be blessed this year. People are talking about how to invest their money this year to get rich. But now, we are showing you ways where you can go so that God will bless the things you can do in the kingdom so that your life will be far better than last year.
Stirring Up the Spirit: A Prayer for Commitment
In Haggai 1:14, the Lord stirred up the Spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah. Likewise, you need a stirring up of your Spirit, which can only be done by God. From the above scripture, it was by God stirring up the Spirit that they began to do the work of God. It takes the stirring up of the Spirit of God in you to do the work of God in His house and this can be achieved with the help of God. As a result, your prayer should be, “Oh God, stir up my Spirit to work for you in the name of Jesus Christ. I am ready to work for you, stir up my Spirit in Jesus Christ name. I need to work for you this day, stir up my Spirit in Jesus Christ name.”
Conclusion
Embracing your role as a co-labourer with Jesus Christ is not just a call but a privilege that comes with rewards. As you prioritize God’s work over personal ambitions, remember that your faithfulness will lead to divine protection and blessings. This year, commit yourself to working for Jesus Christ and watch how He will transform your life and those around you.