“Blessed Beyond Measure”

“Worship while you work” Ephesians 6:5-9

EPHESIANS 6:5-9         5 Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. 9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (NASB)      

1. The Delight of Work Work was a part of God’s original, GOOD plan of creation. Genesis 2:15 - Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. Eccelesiastes 5:18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

2. The Difficulty of Work WORK IS HARD Genesis 3:17 Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. 18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.” “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

Our Hearts are Hard Proverbs 21:25-26 The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back. “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

Hard Work is Rewarding 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

3. The Design of Work Servants: RIGHT ATTITUDE – FEAR AND TREMBLING COMMITMENT – SINCERITY OF HEART MOTIVE – AS TO CHRIST DILIGENCE – FROM THE HEART “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

The Design of Work Masters REFRAIN FROM THREATENING RECOGNIZE GOD’S AUTHORITY RESPECT YOUR FELLOW SERVANT “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

4. The Doxology of Work AS TO CHRIST (v. 5) AS SLaVES OF CHRIST (v. 6) AS TO THE LORD (v. 7) OUR REWARD FROM THE LORD (v. 8) “Blessed Beyond Measure” Dr. Mark Tolbert 9/8/2019

“Blessed Beyond Measure”

      Dr. Mark Tolbert 8/11/2019