Is Good Work Being Performed?

When was the last time, as a parent or teacher, you encouraged your children or your students towards good work? I would venture to guess that it happens daily for parents and 40 to 50 times or more a day for teachers.

My father was a real advocate of not just work, but “good” work. He instilled in his eight children the understanding that “a job worth doing was worth doing well.” And if the work did not meet his expectations, we would do it over. We quickly learned, “Do it right the first time or do it over.” It did not matter whether it was washing the car, the windows on the house, cutting and stacking wood, or doing the dishes – yes, all five boys had to take their turn at dishes, and these were the days before under-the-counter dishwashers.

Confidence in God’s Work

Paul addresses the work that God is doing in our lives in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Being confident is strong language; it means fully, firmly persuaded and convinced. The words “will perform” are Greek words meaning an “intense action.” Paul further exclaims, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

What is his “good work” and his “good pleasure?” I believe these include the reception and activation of the 5,000 or so promises in the Bible and the provision God made for each of us to live, that is, an overcoming, abundant, blessed life, free of the cares and stresses of this world, and allowing our life to be a blessing to others.

Our Reliance is on God

It is God who has begun the good work. God’s design for our lives was planned before we were even born - God designed our lives as a deliberate and intentional action on His part.

Furthermore, God never abandons anything that He undertakes. “There are no unfinished worlds or systems; no half-made and forsaken works on His hands. There is no evidence in His works of creation or a change of plan, or of having forsaken what He began from disgust, or disappointment, or lack of power to complete them” (Barnes).

The quotes, “God is not finished with me yet,” and “I am a work in progress,” are true statements reflective of every believer. God will continue to work His good work in each of us until He is seen face-to-face.

Remove the Barriers to His Good Work

What God has started, He is obligated to complete. This completion is enhanced when the barriers that hinder this completion are removed. This becomes our part in the completion process; for example, the removal of doubt or unbelief and the release of faith, which is more than hoping or wishing.

Identifying the barriers that are hindering God’s good work is the task of the Holy Spirit. What is God’s good work? It is the work that is being performed daily by the Holy Spirit. Consider these as starters:

1.     Brings conviction of sin (John 16:8).

1.     Gives understanding (Prov. 2:6).

2.     Reveals the things of God (Rom. 5:17).

3.     Facilitates teaching and makes learning happen (John 14:16).

4.     Transmits the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 2:7-10).

5.     Guides in all Truth (John 16:13).

6.     Restores joy (Ps. 51:12).

7.     Encourages exercising power over the devil (Eph. 6:12).

8.     Gives the grace to succeed (2 Cor. 1:12).

9.     Helps overcome reproach (1 Pet. 4:14).

10.  Reinforces freedom from bondage (Rom. 8:5).

11.  Brings healing and strength (Rom. 8:1).

Once the Spirit of God speaks action and the need for change to our spirits, our responsibility is to be willing and obedient. As we surrender our will, the Word of God says we will place ourselves in a position to receive the good things of God (Isaiah 1:19).