Their thinking was just like our thinking. If God is with you, then things get better.

The Bible is filled with accounts of people who discovered that in the midst of uncertainty, God was still certain.

Can you trust God when you can't see any evidence of His activity in your life?

In the very same hours when it seemed like God was absent, it is in those hours that God was doing His greatest work.

This is our story as people who place their hope and faith in Jesus as their Savior.

The proof of God's presence with you in uncertain times isn't found in your circumstances, it's found in the cross!

"We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

The Triune God at Work: W.I.J.D?

“The Lord worked with them …” -Mark 16

"In your going … make disciples … and I will be with you always.” -Matthew 28

Station + Location = Vocation

• Who am I in the Kingdom?

• Where am I in the Kingdom?

• What am I to do in the Kingdom?

Vocational Resistance

• A relentless desire to be in control

• A worldly lack of contentment

• A devilish resistance to the co-mission

Control: James 4:13-17 (p. 1884)

“I want …

“I think …

“It seems to me … But if it is the Lord’s will.”

Contentment: Philippians 4:4-20 (p. 1830) and Romans 8:31-39 (p. 1758)

• Who am I?

• Present to receive the presence of Jesus (and his gifts) in the present moment.

Co-Mission: Romans 10:9-21 (p. 1761)

• Colossians 4:2-6

It’s not our responsibility to convict, convince, convert or create faith.

Our responsibility is to communicate the Law and the Gospel.

• 2 Peter 3:8-ff (p. 1896)

Our Heavenly Father wants all of us working together with the goal of doing the work of ministry.

What happens if you are asked to do something in your job that is clearly in conflict with who God has called you to be as a follower of Jesus?

The temptation is to separate your personal convictions from your professional convictions.

We live in a world that tempts us to make these subtle exchanges between what we say we believe and Who it is we serve.

When we compromise we lose the chance to see what God could do in our lives in a very tangible and unmistakable way.

Daniel 3:15 "you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"

Will I entrust my life to my Invisible King, or to my visible boss, my visible culture, and my visible economy?

v.17 "The God we serve is able"

King Solomon said in the book of Ecclesiastes: "there is nothing better for a man to enjoy his work, because that is his lot." "I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. The everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is a gift of God."

As God's people, we can find meaning in life and satisfaction when we cheerfully accept the work given to us by God's gracious hand.

First let's define "calling"

If you are a believer in Jesus, God has assigned you or 'called' you to do specific works in your life. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

All Christians have a spiritual calling / work that we are set apart for - the Lord's service.

Romans 12, 1 Peter 2

Whatever we do, in our individual, diverse vocation / "calling from God" and in our universal Christian calling to serve the Lord, work becomes God-glorifying and enjoyable.

Ephesians 4:1-16

3 Aspects of working in God's kingdom together.

1) Working Together does not mean sameness. There is great diversity.

2) Working Together needs everyone contributing.

3) Working Together will not be stress-free.

Genesis 3:14-19

Work is painful, whether physical or emotional, because of sin.

Work becomes the master that defines our Identity.

Genesis 11:3-4

When it comes to your work, you have two choices:

1) You can use your work to try to give you what work was never meant to give you.

2) You can rely on your work to give you what it was meant to give you and nothing more.

John 15:15-16

Jesus gives us a new identity that is not based on our work.

When the alarm goes off on Monday morning, do your work for the One who gave you a new identity.

There is a difference between what God thinks is most important about work and what we think is most important about work.

What's most important to me is what and how much.

What's most important to God is how am I doing at what I do right now.

The way we evaluate the significance of our work is very different than the way God evaluates the significance of our work.

Colossians 3:23 "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."

v.24 "since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward."

From God's perspective, the significance of your work is not found in the details of your job.

v.24 "it is the Lord Christ you are serving."

1. Your work has eternal significance even if it seems to have no eternal value.

2. How we perform at work is more important than where we work.

3. How we perform at work is just as important as how we behave at work.

The Heart of Our Father

When something is lost, the lost thing becomes the focus of our attention.

Jesus tells us that what brings joy to the heart of God is when the one person who doesn't believe, used to believer, or doesn't know what to believe, learns they have a Savior!

When Jesus refers to someone being lost, He doesn't mean physically. He's talking about being separated relationally.

Luke 15:20 "his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him and ran to his son..."

You are the focus of His attention and His affection because He is on a search for you.

It's impossible to earn back God's love for you because He never stopped loving you in the first place.

Which Son does the Father love more?

When you hear God calling you lost, understand that is a reflection of your value in His eyes. You are of great value to Him.

Have we joined our Heavenly Father in the search?

If God's heart, God's attention, and God's focus is on the lost, what does that say about where our attention and our focus should be?

Pastor Paul leads us in a sermon on Rest + Sabbath on Labor Day.

Pastor Tony interviews Jeff Klein of QPlace.

This conversation helps give insight into how to effectively share the good news of Jesus with the people of our community through everyday relationships.

Pastor Lohmeyer joins us with a sermon on the impact that we have had in his community of Alderson, WV.

Hear about the "partnership in the Gospel" that we have with him and his church.