Speaker 1: 0:15

All right. So the power of co-laboring with God and this is one of those topics that every week that we do a fearless faith session, one of the things I do is I always say, okay, god, what do you want me to share? What do you want me to share today? And today I got up. I had a big webinar last night. Maybe you were on there we had a lot of people on in our last night Maybe you were on there we had a lot of people on. We had over 350 people register and we had about 50% of those people were on last night. So it was a huge thing.

Speaker 1: 0:48

And I got up this morning early. I was up late last night, up early this morning, and so I hadn't had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to share today. And I just sat down at my desk this morning. I was like, okay, god, what do you want me to talk about? And this thought came to my head about co-laborers with God. And, to be truthful, when I said that a post from my buddy, ray Higdon and I'm going to pull it up real quick so I can read it to you he posted it yesterday on Facebook and that quote actually came to my mind, and that quote was let me just make sure that I'm reading it correctly oh yeah, and here was the post. He said trusting God, isn't you relying on him to do the work for you? And that post came to my mind this morning when I started thinking about this co-laboring with God concept, and so for me, that's what came to mind and that's what we're going to talk about this morning. So just a reminder, guys, as you're here, do me a favor, just comment, heart it, let me know that you're here. And that helps me, okay, so it helps the group too. It helps us to push this out to more people in the group. So one of the the one second here, there we go. So one of the verses are the verses of scripture I want to start with this morning. That is very important, and I'm going to read this and this will kind of set the tone for what I want to talk about here. And I've got a bunch of other verses too I want to refer to, but 1 Corinthians 3, starting in verse 5. And so I want you to listen to this, and I'm reading from the Passion Translation, and you can read this in many other translations. I really like how the Passion Translation puts this and I just want to be clear too to you guys that there's no one translation, because I see this debate a lot. There's no one translation that is perfect. Every translation has errors. The goal is when you're going to the scripture.

Speaker 1: 2:54

I love to compare and contrast different translations. It broadens the understanding. It helps me see things. I also like to go in and use and look at some of the Greek words that things are.

Speaker 1: 3:06

One of the great softwares that I use that I love. I've been using it for many years. It's called eSword, so e-sword, and it's a great app. You can put it on your computer, you can put it on your phone. When I go to church on Sunday, I got my Bible on my phone and I pull up eSword on my phone and I can go and I can pull up all different translations. I can compare and contrast.

Speaker 1: 3:28

But anyway, this verse here, 1 Corinthians 3, verse 5, I like how the Passion Translation puts it and it says who is Apollos really, or who is Paul? Aren't we just both servants through whom you believed our message? Aren't each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us? So this is very important. I want to point this out, and then we're going to continue here. Every single one of you have a ministry. Okay, now, if you are not a faith-based person, you might go. I don't have a ministry, but you do. Whether you accept that idea or not, it's true, because you have something that you're passionate about. Every one of us have something that we're passionate about, and the goal of that passion that is in you for something it wasn't just put there by chance. You have this passion because God put that in you. He gave you the talents to carry it out, he gave you the wherewithal to go out and share the message that you need to share with people, and my message and my mission is to help others, equip others to go out and share that message. So everybody has a part in what we do, and so one of the things that he says here and there, we're both just servants and each of us is doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us. So question is what is the ministry that the Lord has assigned to you? A couple of weeks ago, we had Tom on and Tom talked about how his mission was really to go out and help people understand the idea of gratitude. He talked about a story. If you guys haven't checked that, log into the members area and check that it's here in the group also. But you want to check that story out? Everybody has a mission and everybody has a purpose that God has assigned them.

Speaker 1: 5:26

Okay, so let's continue in verse six. I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. Very important, okay. When we talk about co-laboring with God, this verse is very crucial. I was the one who planted. This is Paul speaking. I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. Let's keep going. Verse 7, this means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth. Now, the one who plants and the one who waters are equally important and on the same team, but each will be rewarded for his own work. Verse 9, we are co-workers. That word co-workers means co-laborers or fellow laborers with God, and you are God's cultivated garden, the house he is building. So here's the thing, and I have to be reminded of this on a regular basis myself.

Speaker 1: 6:42

Sometimes, we get caught up in the idea that everything we do is dependent upon our own ability. And this, honestly, this is exactly what the devil wants you to believe. He wants you to believe that. He wants you to believe that you have to do it all on your own, because the moment you believe that your stress levels can go up, your fear can be increased, and that's ultimately what he wants. See, but when we have God in our corner, and when we recognize God, that he is in our corner, we can then go and do something with peace and know that, hey, I'm going to do the best, that I know how, I'm going to do the best with the abilities that God has given me and I'm going to go out there, but I'm going to rely on God for the results. And this is the mindset shift that we want to have as believing entrepreneurs, because a lot of times we're looking for results. Now, here's the thing we always want to be improving. You can't just go out there and give a half-hearted effort and then expect God to fill in the gaps. You have to give it everything you got.

Speaker 1: 7:50

The scripture says in many different places that when you do something, do it with everything you have in you. It says work heartily unto the Lord. The scripture says Work heartily unto the Lord. In other words, put everything you got into it, invest in yourself, invest in your skill sets, invest in you. And when you do that, as you do that and as you take action, doing the best that you know to do, that's where God can fill in the gaps, because he knows you're putting your heart and soul into what you're doing and you're doing it heartily unto God and not unto men. That's what the scripture says.

Speaker 1: 8:28

So, guys, if this is gelling with you, I'd love to see some comments and hearts as well. We've got a few people watching, but I'd love your feedback too. So here we go. I'm going to share a couple more verses with you on this, because I believe that this is such an important thing for us to get as believers, especially believing entrepreneurs. So 1 Corinthians 9.

Speaker 1: 8:50

So we just shared this, this, but we are fellow workers. You are god's field, god's building. Philippians 2 13. For it is god who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Again, this goes back to what paul was saying. Okay, in verse 5. Who is apollos really? Or who is paul? Aren't we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren't each of us doing the ministry that the Lord has called us to? You see the skills, the passion you put in your part. God inspires that within you and the results you leave up to him. You continue to do your best, you continue to press forward and learn and do the things you know to do, but God will supply that. So, james 2.7,. This is why understanding that real faith in God, real faith in our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ, james 2.7,. So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. So when we have faith, it must be followed by works.

Speaker 1: 10:05

Now, there's a very important distinction here. Okay, we are not saved by our works. This is very important to understand. Salvation is very important to understand. Salvation is a gift. Salvation is a gift. It's very easy to receive salvation.

Speaker 1: 10:21

Okay, so we are not justified by our works. The scripture makes that clear. We are justified by the work of j Jesus, by his works justified us. So make sure you understand that when you are doing works, you are always going to fall short. Always, no matter what we do, we'll always fall short. But that's where we have the mediator, jesus Christ, between us and God. He fills that gap for us and that's why that's important to understand. So when you fall short, you just simply hey, god, I'm sorry, please forgive me, I'm moving forward. Jesus filled that gap for me and worked to not do it again. It's really that simple. So that's very important.

Speaker 1: 11:09

So faith is followed by works, co-laboring with God. This is this back and forth we have with God Ephesians 2.10,. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. John 15.5,. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. Huge, that's a big deal From. Apart from me, you can do nothing. God says in the scripture with God, all things are possible. Okay, colossians 3, 23 and 24.

Speaker 1: 11:52

Whatever you do this goes back to what I was saying here Work heartily as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. So, whatever you do, work heartily for the Lord and not for men, and this is a reminder I need too. I'm not saying this I have this perfect all the time. I certainly don't. I always a work in progress too, but this is such an important thing for us to remember to know Okay, so work heartily unto God. Proverbs 16, 3,. Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. So when you do your part, say it to God. You know what God. I'm going to do my best. I'm going to do the best that I know I'm leaving the results up to you. But it says when you commit your work to the Lord, your plans will be established. Your plans will be established Unless.

Speaker 1: 12:51

Psalm 127.1,. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. This is such an important verse. Listen to this Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Think about that. Are you building a business or are you building a house and not letting God direct you? Because it says here that, unless the Lord builds a house, those who build it labor in vain. I don't know about you, but I don't want to labor in vain. That's not what I want. Do you want to build it in vain? Probably not.

Speaker 1: 13:31

Galatians 6, 9, and let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we faint, not so for those of you out there that are building a business and you're asking that question, why am I struggling? Why am I not getting the results that I think I should? God says and let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. Okay, and that is so important. If we do not give up, if we're operating in our assignment that God has given us, sometimes we're thinking man, when is this going to kick off? When is this going to happen? It says right here if we do not give up. That's when it will happen at the right time, so important.

Speaker 1: 14:22

Hebrews 13, 21,. Equip you with everything good that you may do his will. According in us that which is pleasing in his sight, so God will equip us with everything good that we may do his will. He will give us everything that we need in order to do his will Working in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever, amen. So God's going to give us the tools, the strategies, the people, the places he's going to provide all that for us. The people, the places he's going to provide all that for us. Sounds like an awesome life, doesn't it? It is, but it only requires one thing from us, and that is faith in him that he's going to fill the gaps for us. We're going to do our best, we're going to invest in ourselves, our skills, the things that we know we need to do in order to succeed, and he will fill in those gaps. Romans 8, 28.

Speaker 1: 15:18

And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Okay, sometimes your struggle is God working out something in you for good. All struggle is not a bad thing, okay, I think sometimes we get the idea that struggle is bad and struggle is not bad. Struggle is not always fun, but struggle is not always a bad thing, because it's through struggle that we also grow. So it's very important.

Speaker 1: 15:54

2 Timothy 2.15,. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. So do yourself, do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. So our goal is to be in the scriptures regularly. It's to know God's will, and we present our God, ourself, as one approved, when we do that. Okay, here's another great one. This is such an important part of entrepreneurship. I love the scripture because it's so in line with what real, true entrepreneurship is. 1 Peter, 4, 10 and 11.

Speaker 1: 16:39

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace, whoever speaks as one who speaks oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies in order that, in everything, god may be glorified through Christ. So, as you've received a gift, okay, as you've received gifts, as you receive, like, for instance, you have the skills and the ability. Because you've co-labored with God, you've done your part, you've invested in you, you've gone. Because you've co-labored with God, you've done your part, you've invested in you, you've gone out there, you've worked together with God, you look for his guidance. And as you receive those gifts, he says to serve one another with those gifts. And you can serve and make a living at the same time. That's the great thing. So when you serve people through your business, okay, you are using it to serve other people, but you also get compensated in return. This is the great thing about what this verse is saying as good stewards of God's varied grace. So you go out there and you serve, okay, and when you do it, you glorify God through that.

Speaker 1: 17:56

2 Corinthians 9.8,. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you so that you, having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. So works are a thing, it's just you have to separate the two and understand that salvation is not by works. The scripture says nobody is saved by works. And if you read the scripture, it clearly states and shows that you cannot be saved and, as a matter of fact, you cannot be saved by works and God won't allow that because he doesn't want any man to go out and boast about it oh look, I'm so holy, I'm so good based on my works and that's how I got salvation. No, the scripture says that's not possible Salvation is not by works, lest any man should boast. That's what the scripture says.

Speaker 1: 18:49

So our salvation is by one simple thing. It's just accepting the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Okay, believing that God raised him from the dead, that's how you receive salvation. It's a simple act of faith and your part that Jesus was the sacrifice for you to have connection with God. So when you accept that you are, you receive salvation. It's not based on your works, but on the works of Jesus. Okay, that's the important part here to understand. But works are very important when it comes to this life. Faith without works is dead. So if your business, if you're working your business, it's very important to know and to understand that works are required in order for you to move forward, investing in your skills, the things that you need to do, and you do your absolute best, that you know how, and God will supply the rest.