Work & Water pt.2
WORK & WATER
Week 2 - 8/30/2020
CHURCH WATER
1 Corinthians 3:8
8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
What does watering look like?
Consider, there used to be only a system of wells. You would have to lower the bucket and then raise it back up to receive some water. Then pour it into whatever bucket you had. Then make the trip to water whatever plants needed it.
Now watering a plant is not a reactive action. The plant does not say thank you - the fruit, growth or direct effect of the water is not immediately recognizable.
Watering is an act that requires vision for the future and discipline for the now.
The act of watering is something that we should be familiar with in the Church. We may offer prayer - sound biblical advice, scriptural guidance and not see an effect right away. No “thank you” may be offered - it may seem to be a sense of work with no gratification.
Now This is what we know -
Ephesians 1:20-23
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Colossians 1:17-18
17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
The head of the Church is Christ - so every Pastor, Leader, Deacon, Bishop, Apostle; Christian, Believer, Worship leader, Creative director, Children’s Pastor, Cafe manager, Art Gallery Curator is under the headship and leadership of Christ. The Church is under Christ.
As Church Leaders, We are caretakers entrusted to care for what belongs to God.
As a Christian, what if God has called you to help build someone else’s life?
A parent will automatically take this question and have some understanding. A single person will have to stretch themselves a little bit. The watering that can or will happen in a healthy setting doesn’t look like a few people getting glory because everything is growing.
What if God brought you into someone’s life to help build them up?
What if your role in someone’s life was just to add some water?
To speak life and speak truth that as they move forward and grow as a Christian…you would help them stay on the straight & narrow path.
Watering is a service, a work, a ministry and it can only be done in humility;
Watering is an act that requires vision for the future and discipline for the now.
in closing, a final question;
How do I get back to a place of humility?
Jesus said ;
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[d]
There is Our mission, Discipleship.
Discipleship includes a very personal element. You see the writer James spoke of feeding the hungry, and of giving his jacket to the cold…
True giving can only be done out of the spirit of humility.
Give, not just money.
Give something out of your life, that you would never normally do. What drives us to give to a need? emotion?
What if the Holy Spirit was leading you?
One of the most memorable moments for me was when a pastor who has a church of about 700 people and who’s ministry reaches about 2,000 weekly. He owns properties and is a good businessman and pastor, has a good testimony with everyone that knows him.
He shared with me a personal testimony. He shared how his marriage was hurting, they weren’t in sin…but he went to his church leadership and said I need to hand over the church because our marriage is hurting…i’m giving too much attention everywhere else.
His leadership in response said how do we help?
He shared with me a moment that not many know about. He gave me information, not knowing wether i would think less or greater of him. He didn’t care about my opinions of him, what he cared about was sharing with me how to make it. How to be built better for long term ministry.
He was giving me something, that was priceless, his experience allowed me to be built. At that moment I could feel the Holy Spirit instilling in me the importance of my marriage. He was at work in my heart, while this man was giving me his story.
This work, is personal. It requires of us…to give. It doesn’t matter who gives more.
When we think of suicide.
When we think of divorce.
When we think of hatred.
When we think of bitterness.
Think of how we can help build that person.
Think of the scaffolding needed around them to allow the Holy Spirit to work.
There is no spirit of competition when the Holy Spirit is at work.
There is no strife, no jealousies…no corruption when the Holy Spirit is at work.
When Jesus died for us and shed His blood, He gave us opportunity to be worked on. Our sin by default was cause for condemnation. We were condemned….we were not worthy of being worked on…
But the blood of Jesus brought us new life.
Watering is an act that requires vision for the future and discipline for the now.
Thank God, that someone saw the Holy Spirit working on you and said I’m going to help. I don’t care if this person gives me glory.