WHAT IS “WORK”? “Work refers to human stewardship of God’s world in every area of life, not employment alone but all human activity that’s productive and positively affects creation.” Symphony of Mission MONDAY MORNING ATHEIST = Someone who believes in God, but works like He doesn’t exist Matthew 5:14 And you, beloved, are the light of the world. How do we stay CONNECTED TO LIFE/POWER of God DAILY IN & THRU our lives? How do we not turn OFF our faith on Monday? 1 – Stay GROUNDED to the TRUTH 2 TRUTHS about WORK: WORK TRUTH #1 – WORK IS GOOD God's view of work is so important He headlined it in the very first chapter of the Bible. God originally created work to be experienced in the context of a moment by moment intimate relationship with Him. From the very beginning the Bible paints a picture of man's SPIRITUAL BOND WITH GOD in the Garden of Eden as a WORKING RELATIONSHIP." - Doug Spada Genesis 2:15 (NIV) “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” WORK - TRUTH #2 - WORK = WORSHIP Genesis 2:15 (NIV) “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” WORK (Hebrew = AVODHA = “WORSHIP”) 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Work is not SEPARATE from our spiritual life Romans 12:2 (MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. 2 – Stay CONNECTED to HOLY SPIRIT POWER “Our society is more impressed with some jobs than others, our God does not feel the same way. He is more impressed with HOW we do our job and IF we are doing it WITH HIM or WITHOUT HIM.” DOUG SPADA We need to UNDERSTAND the POWER of the GOD/ POWER OF THE CROSS - NOT JUST for Church and into the marketplace ● Of the 52 parables that Jesus taught 45 had workplace context ● Of the 132 appearances of Jesus, 122 of them were in the workplace ● In Acts, 39 out of the 40 miracles took place in the workplace context The very first PERSON described as being “FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD” in the bible Exodus 31:1-11 Look, I have a special calling upon one of the sons of Judah. His name is Bezalel (the son of Uri, son of Hur). 3 I have filled him with God’s Spirit, gifted him with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skills with a variety of crafts. 4 He is an expert designer and works well with gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He is able to cut and set gems, work with wood, and skillfully perform any craft needed… Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. “When our work is done well we provide the world with a small, incomplete but beautiful portrait of what God is like.” Symphony of Mission “Each day God heals through the hands of doctors, protects through the hands of parents, feeds through the hands of farmers, and brings order to the world through the hands of anonymous administrators who work under the glow of florescent lights. When we do GOOD WORK, we become living analogies of God’s character, display the brilliance of his creation, provide a foretaste of God’s kingdom, and serve our neighbours.” Symphony of Mission “When our participation in God’s mission lacks intentionality in our daily work- whether paid or unpaid- we diminish our credibility and distort the character of God in front of a world that needs to behold his glory.” Symphony of Mission 3 - KEEP our HEART & MIND SWITCHED ON John 5:17&19 “My Father is at work. So I, too, am working…I only do what I see My Father doing" “He is inviting us to imagine life as it was supposed to be and then pray and work towards displaying bits of the king here on earth – a preview of what is to come fully when he returns” Symphony of Mission Recommended resources: Bill Johnson “The Way of Life” Doug Spada “Monday Morning Atheist” Tim Keller “Every Good Endeavor” worklife.org The SWITCH Work Prayer Lord Jesus, as I begin my work, I bring Your presence with me. I speak Your peace, Your grace and Your perfect order into the atmosphere of my work. I acknowledge Your Lordship over all that will be spoken, thought, decided and accomplished this day. Lord Jesus, I thank you for the gifts and skills You have deposited in me. I do not take them lightly, but commit to using them responsibly and well. Give me a fresh supply of truth and beauty on which to draw as I do my job today. Bless my creativity, my ideas, my energy so that even my smallest task may bring You honor. Lord, when I'm confused, guide me — when I'm weary, energize me. Lord, when I'm burned out, infuse me with the light of Your Holy Spirit. May the work I do and the way I do it bring hope, life, and courage to all that I come into contact with today. And oh Lord, even in this day's most stressful moments, may I rest in You. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.