1. Attitudes and actions that garner God’s blessings

2. What is this series about? An examination of 21 attitudes and behaviors identified in the New Testament as “blessed” A look at Christian conduct and characteristics that will enrich our lives with lasting joy A look at the condition of those who lack these qualities

3. Matthew 24:45-51 Outline The busy worker The work we must do The blessings of being a busy worker The cursed life: the lazy non-worker

4. The busy worker We are commanded to work Our purpose is to do good works (Eph. 2:10) Commanded to do good deeds (Tit. 3:8.14) The good worker: Cleanses & prepares himself for work (2 Tim. 2:21) Qualities of a good bondservant (2 Tim. 2:24-25) Works with the purpose of pleasing God (2 Cor. 5:9) Bears fruit (Col. 1:10) Encourage other workers (Col. 4:11) Uses God’s tool accurately for work (2 Tim. 2:15) “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day” (John 9:4)

5. The work we must do It is not enough to just talk about the work Our duty is not fulfilled by paying another to do our work We never reach a point where we have done enough Personal evangelism Fishers of men (Matt. 4:19) Sowers and waterers of seed (1 Cor. 3:5-9) Church servants Builders of the body (1 Cor. 3:10-13) Restorers of the erring (Gal. 6:1) Equippers of fellow saints (Eph. 4:11-12) Teachers of truth (2 Tim. 2:2) “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes” (Matt. 24:46)

6. The blessings of being a busy worker Blessings in this life: Our work builds up the body (Eph. 4:15-16) Stimulate one another to good deeds (Heb. 10:24) The approved workman is not ashamed (2 Tim. 2:15) The joy of seeing a sinner converted to Christ Blessings in the next life (Heb. 6:10) Named in the Book of Life (Phil. 4:3) The reward of the inheritance for workers (Col. 3:23-24) Rest from our labors (Rev. 14:13) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58)

7. The cursed life: Deceitful workers (2 Cor. 11:13) Wrong intentions (Matt. 23:1-7) Unfruitful workers (Eph. 5:11) Worthless for work (Tit. 1:16) They hate the Light (Jn. 3:19-20) Their end will be according to their deeds (2 Cor. 11:15) Will face a resurrection of judgment (Jn. 5:29) “you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS …to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation” (Rom. 2:5-8)

8. Summary (1 Tim. 5:25) We are commanded to work for the Lord, and must do so until the end comes Our duties are in both personal work and church work God’s workers are blessed in this life and will be rewarded in the next Non-workers and workers of evil will be punished “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10)

9. Believe in Jesus Christ (John 14:1; Acts 16:30-34) That He died for your sins and was resurrected (1 Cor. 15:3-4) Repent of your past sins (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:9) Commit yourself to holy conduct (Acts 26:30; Titus 2:11-12) Confess your faith (Matthew 10:32) Declare your belief that Jesus is God’s Son (Acts 8:37) Receive Baptism (Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12) Baptism puts you into Christ (Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:27) Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16) Baptism saves you (1 Peter 3:21) Be faithful until death (Revelation 2:10) Trust His grace and obey His commands (Hebrews 5:9) Or face the retribution due to those who do not obey 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8; John 3:36

10. Pray without ceasing…Practice what Jesus preached…Prepare for our next assembly