MADE TO WORK

“God With You (at Work)”
Greg Wingard – September 11, 2022

Joshua 1:9 — “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go, except at work.”

Matthew 28:20 — “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age, except at work.”

1. God will help you solve PROBLEMS you can’t solve on your own.

   Daniel 5:11-12 — “There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor...King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the [wise men] of Babylon. This man Daniel...has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams...and solve difficult problems. Call [him...he can help you].”

2. God brings LIGHT through you to your colleagues.

   Matthew 5:14-15 — “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”

3. God will give you GUIDANCE in your work, serving as your Executive Coach.

   
   John 10:27 — “My sheep hear My voice.”

   John 16:13 — ”But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

   Isaiah 28:23-29 — “Listen and hear My voice; pay attention and hear what I say. When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually? Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil? When he has leveled the surface, does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin? Does he not plant wheat in its place, barley in its plot, and spelt in its field? His God instructs him and teaches him the right way. Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin; caraway is beaten out with a rod, and cumin with a stick. Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it, but one does not use horses to grind grain. This also comes from the Lord of hosts; He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance”.

Toolbox to Bring God Into Your Work Every Morning

1. Remember the earth is the Lord’s and your sphere is God’s sphere.

   “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1). As you enter your workplace today, know that your Father owns your industry – your place of work – and that you are walking into your family business!

2. Buy a journal and capture your thoughts, pose your questions, and write your prayers.

   David received God’s instructions for the temple as he wrote. “The Lord made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans” (I Chronicles 28:19). Clarity and creativity emerge during the writing process.

3. Let the Holy Spirit guide your thoughts regarding work issues.

   “Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).

4. Entrust your “doors” to God. He is your doorkeeper.

   “When He opens doors, no one will be able to close them; when he closes doors, no one will be able to open” (Isaiah 22:22).

5. Make some big, bold, only-God-can-make-it-happen requests.

   When was the last time you asked God for something so bold, so big, that He needed to say to you, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26)?

6. Give your problems to Him and ask for His wisdom.

   “If any of you lacks wisdom, ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). Jesus said that in this world, we will have problems, but He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

7. When stuck, look up.

   Sometimes when we feel stuck, God is behind it and wants us to look up and see a bigger opportunity or a new way forward (Acts 16:6-10; Isaiah 40:26; Isaiah 60:4-5). Get excited for the surprise God may have around the corner for you!

8. Pray for God to bless your enemy.

   “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Who is crowding your lane? Working against you? Saying untruths about you? Ask God to bless them! And stay free in your spirit.

9. Let God link your business more directly to His work.

   God’s vision communicated to and through pastoral leadership is deeply connected to his provision through us. We are part of His miraculous flow. Know this: there are miracles for you that are linked to miracles for His work (2 Corinthians 9:6; 9:10). “Remember the Lord your God, that it is He who gives you the power to create wealth, that He may confirm His covenant” (Deut. 8:18).

10. Get quiet every morning and notice what God is already up to.

    “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:16). God is at work in the world and in your marketplace. Getting quiet helps you see it and align with it.

11. See and remember what the Lord has done.

    “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago” (Psalm 77:11). This causes you to notice how active He already has been with you and it builds your faith for what is in front of you now.

Establishing Your 15-minute Morning Quiet Time

Where? ___________________.

When? Before______________.