Apostle Andre Pelser, Christmas 2009

Christmas has lost its value because of commercialization: Father Christmas and his presents have taken over from the true meaning of the birth of Christ. Christmas carols have been so commercialized that they have lost their message.

To reform our concept of Christmas we should look at the birth of Christ in the lives of people: to celebrate the born again experience, in other words, Christ being formed in people’s lives, is to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas when Jesus Christ was born.

But after birth there has to be growth: Jesus did not stay away in a manger for 2000 years! The commercial world does not mind a baby Jesus. It sells! But they do not want Him to be the Son of the Living God, or the Lord of lords or King of kings.

Paul described apostolic labors when he tried to win back the allegiance of the Galatians’ believers who back slid into religious formalism of Jewish traditions soon after they experienced the joy of the liberty of the Spirit of God.

Galatians 4:8-11

⁸ Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again^b to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? ¹⁰ Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

 

Galatians 4:19 - 29

¹⁹ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, ²⁰ ^† I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

²¹ Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? ²² For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. ²³ But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. ²⁴ Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants^e; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. ²⁵ For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. ²⁶ But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷ For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. ²⁸ Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. ²⁹ But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

^[1]

Here are several descriptions of labors that are required until Christ is formed in us all.

1.

Labor in Greek is kopos: it means taking a beating, striking, causing weariness hardship and trouble.

Nola and Renate…much labor, much trouble, weariness of the flesh and mind. It seems so unnecessary, but it is called laboring….

2.

Parecho also means to labor but it means to afford, to give. By giving to missionaries you are also laboring, or entering into their labors, so you will enter into their rewards as well. Jesus had women who supported his ministry. So did Paul. They obviously also had men who supported them financially.

3.

Ergon which is pleasant work: all work is not exhausting and wearisome! To labor in doctrine, to teach the word is an enjoyable task! What a privilege to be the messenger of the most high God!

4.

Mochthos is distressful labor causing hardship. We often have to go through things we do not like for the sake of others. This is how Christ is formed in them and in us: they eventually remember the price you paid on their behalf and then they begin to change. They are changed into the image of Christ.

5.

Cheimatzo is driving in winter’s cold. It is sometimes hard to get up to pray in winter. My mother used to wrap herself in a blanket and pray in the early hours of the morning. My wife, Nola, sits in bed praying for the family, the church and other people we are laboring for. She does not start the day without seeking God on behalf of other people. This is laboring in the spirit.

6.

Ergonizomai is laboring to the point of exhaustion. Jesus sometimes became so weary from his journeys that he had to sit down. Paul labored until he was weary, other apostles labored until they dropped. Nola and I have worked until we were worn out, physically, on several occasions. Then the Lord renews our strength and we go on laboring again.

7.

Philotimeomai is laboring seeking honor. The desire to be an elder or a deacon is a worthy pursuit. You have to sort your own life out in order to have oversight over other people. This sorting out never ceases. As you grow spiritually the Lord has to purify you and perfect you. He does this by chastisement and by correction. He brings hidden things to the surface so that you can recognize it. Then he deals with it, with your permission, of course. In the end we seek the honor of God, not just the honor of men.

 

There are different types of labor in the scriptures:

Laboring in physical labor

Laboring in imprisonments, tumults, watchings and fastings often!

Laboring by holding forth the word of life, by teaching apostolic doctrine

Laboring in companionship

Laboring in supporting apostolic missions financially

Laboring in prayers

Laboring to enter into the rest of faith

Laboring in patience

Laboring in withstanding evil

Scriptures:

^[2]

1 Cor 4:12			And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
2 Cor 6:5			In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
Phil 2:16			Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Phil 2:25			Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
Phil 4:3			And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Col 4:12			Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thess 1:3			Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1 Thess 5:12			And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
Heb 4:11			Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Rev 2:2			I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

 

 

We labor until Christ is formed in all of us

 

The Greek definition of Formed:

morphoo (3445), like the noun (A, No. 1), refers, not to the external and transient, but to the inward and real; it is used in Gal. 4:19, expressing the necessity of a change in character and conduct to correspond with inward spiritual condition, so that there may be moral conformity to Christ.¶

 

Gal 4:19			My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Phil 2:6			Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Phil 2:7			But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
1 Tim 2:13			For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
2 Tim 3:5			Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

We cannot produce Christ: it is a deep, inner work of the Holy Spirit in us. We can teach and pray, we can be patient, we can endure hardship, but only God can give the growth. Only God can form Christ within, the hope of glory.

We are often observers of the outward performance of people, which sometimes discourages us. We give up on people. We say that they will never change! We are not to judge what God is doing in their lives. Who knows, we might not see them for ten years and by that time, Christ has been formed in their lives and we are so surprised to see the change we could not bring about.

That is why we need to labor in patience…Love is patient and it is kind. Love does not seek its own, but the betterment of others and the greater glory of God.

Let us not grow weary in well-doing for in the end we will be rewarded for all our labors. Christ knows our works, and our labors…and He will reward us. There is no labor lost in the economy of God.

One life it soon will be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.