We'll read from the opening verse, and as you turn there, we welcome you. We're glad to see you here, and those who've been away for a little period of time, all the way back again with us, and we're glad to see them again. And so we're in 1 Corinthians chapter number three, and as I've said, we're reading together from the verse number one. Let's hear God's word as it's here before us this evening. Thy brethren could not speak unto you in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with meat. For hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal. For whereas there was among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul, Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom he believed, even as the Lord gave to every man. I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. And he that planteth and he that watereth are one, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own neighbor. We are neighbors together with God. You're God's husband, right? Ye are God's building. Amen, we'll conclude, as we've said there at the end of the verse number nine of our Bible reading. Well, tonight in this meeting, we want to continue our studies on who we are as Christians and bring a message that I trust will be in keeping with what we're about to embark upon as a church family in coming weeks, namely, the evangelizing of the lost who are found in our families, in our circle of friends, and in this community at large. Writing to the Corinthian believers, the Apostle Paul reminds the people of God in the verse number nine, that they, along with him, were laborers together with God, for we are neighbors together with God. Ye are God's husbandry. Ye are God's building. It must be said, with regard to our lives, that there are things that we have no part to play in when it comes to many of God's works. For example, we have no part to play in the work of providence. It's God alone who governs and controls all that happens in our world. It is He who is continually upholding all things by the word of His power and regulating everything that happens in this world for His glory and for His people's good. And so we have no role, no part to play in the work of providence. We have no role or part to play in the work of judgment. God the Father has committed all judgment onto us. the Son of God, and so we have no part to play with regard to God's work of judgment. We have no part to play, and this is obvious in the work of redemption. Christ has done all that is necessary to reconcile us to God, and for that we are eternally grateful to God for. However, when it comes to the unfinished task of making Christ known, of preaching the gospel, And seeing to the advancement of Christ's church on earth, then we find that we have a part to play in such a work as those who are neighbors together with God. Paul has already been speaking in this chapter before we get to the verse number nine. He's already been speaking about the matter of our involvement in the building of the local church within this particular church. her, many bypass her, many neglect her, many speak disparagingly about her. But the local church is dear to the heart of God because it is through the local church that the saints are edified and sinners are evangelized. In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul, he's speaking here to the local church. in the city of Corinth. And he reminds his readership in these opening verses, he reminds his readership that while it was he who was used by God to see the planting of that local church, the details of which you'll be able to read at a later date in Acts chapter 18, and while Apollos had labored then to stabilize and to increase and to build up the church in Corinth, it was ultimately God who had given the increase. purpose, that a local church would be established in the city of Corinth. Yes, God employed and used Paul in this work, and also Apollos, but it was ultimately God. God gave the increase, and Paul is trying to get that into the minds of the people because the church had sadly, as it were, broken into sections, Some they cited with Paul, some they were citing with Apollos, and Paul is trying to correct that, this dealing of this sack that had, these two sacks that had appeared in this particular church, and he reminds them that it was ultimately God who did it all. Yet, nevertheless, we must not forget that God was pleased to use the ministry of these two men. To see, first of all, to the establishment of the church through Paul, and then secondly, to the advancement of the local church in Corinth through this man, Apollos. These men, along then with the membership of the church in Corinth, have become, in Paul's words, laborers together with God. And beloved, that's what you are. And that's what I am. Within the setting of this local New Testament church, we are laborers together with God. Now as we look at this chapter, and I want to do it very briefly, but as we look at this chapter of God's word in which we are called laborers, we note God's method of doing things. You know, it's amazing to think that the great husband man, the Lord Jesus Christ, employs men and women as laborers in his harvest field. And yet that is what God has purposed to do. God could very easily do his work without any human involvement. But that is not the way that God has ordained. That is not the way that God has purposed or planned his work to be done. Amazingly, it seems that God ordinarily works out his purposes through human agency, through men, through women, through young people. One preacher put it like this, the master's commission is not sit still and see the spirit of God convert the nations, but go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. In this task, we are all to be engaged in. Some at the very forefront of the work as the preacher of the gospel. Others behind the scenes, praying for the preacher as he goes forth into the harvest field to bring in, as it were, God's harvest, and all, all attempting to get the ungodly under the preaching of the word of God, because we believe that it is through that that men and women are brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that the gospel is the power of God onto salvation. As I've said, God could accomplish what he has purposed without the use of any of us, without the help of any of us. Of course, he would be able to do that because he is God, but that is not God's way. God's way is to bring us into his service so that they'll be come to enjoy and come to share in the joy of that service. And so he uses Paul for a period of time. And then Paul moves on, and now Apollos, he takes over the work, and then he furthers it even further. This is God's way of doing things. He uses individuals, and then he brings others alongside to further the work on. So let me ask you the question, are you then a labourer in God's harvest field? Here, these people, they are described here as labourers together with God. He doesn't say, I'm a labourer. He doesn't put himself on some type of higher standing than these individuals. No, he says, we are labourers. We are labourers together with God. So are we labouring for the Lord? Are we labourers for God? No, the fields are white and ready to harvest. That's what the Savior said. But sadly, the field is sparse with workers. Why not make, then, this forthcoming gospel mission, why not make this the time? If you have not labored yet for Christ, why not make this the time that you begin laboring for God? Laboring in prayer, laboring in inviting, laboring in being present. and upholding God's servant as we make our way into the mission. I want you to note down a few things, at least mentally in your mind, relating to our labors that we find here drawn to our attention by the Spirit of God in this particular chapter. The lessons are very simple. I want you to notice in the first instance the division of labor among the laborers. I've already drawn this matter to your attention, but I'll do it again for emphasis sake. I'm pointing you to the words of the verse number six, where God's servant, the apostle Paul, writes, I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. I want you to notice that Paul planted. That was his God-given task. And Apollos, he watered, and that's what God entrusted Apollos with, and both men got on with the jobs that God had given to them, without sticking their noses into the other man's business. Apollos did not get into planting. His work was watering. Paul did not water. His work was planting. And the two men did not, as it were, cross over. No, Paul did his work. Apollos did his work. It was God who gave of work to do, and in that specific work, they labored. Paul's words here, they remind us that no man has all the gifts. We all have our limitations, but where we lack, and where there is a deficiency in our labors, God has others who can come along and then meet the need and make up that which is deficient. that was ministered to in the Book of Acts and how one of God's servants, he left them for a period of time and he went and got the, I think it was the Apostle Paul, and the Apostle Paul, he came and made up where there was lack with regard to his ministry. And so that is the case in times in God's work. Yes, we lack, we have our limitations. Some of us are good planters, as it were. Some are better waterers. always ever remembering that God gives the increase. And maybe, brethren and sisters, if we just got on with the work that God has given us to do, if we just did that, well, maybe the work of God would go fast on without, at times, that friction that can arise in the work of God because people are really interfering with work that has not been entrusted to them. You see, child of God, you're to find out what God wants you to do within the local church, and then do it with all your might, because he has something for you to do. Don't call it another Christian's laborers, because remember that both planting and watering ours are necessary. One's not greater than the other. Both are necessary. But there is an order that is to be done in God's work. And it does remind us that no point in watering soil, and there's no seed in the soil. No, there needs first to be the planting, and then the watering, and that's the way that God does things, and then in the bringing in of the harvest, because there is an order to the work of God. It's not to be chaos, it's not for us to go and decide to do our own thing, but simply it is up for us to know what God would have us to do, and then to do it. and focus on that and stay focused on that. And give yourself to that task. Whatever God has given you, he's entrusted you with. As the little hymn says, take the task he gives you gladly. Let his work your pleasure be. Answer quickly when he calleth. Here am I, send me, send me. And so both are necessary. And so there is a division of labor. The minister can't do it all. The elders can't do it all. The Sunday school teacher can't do it all. The youth worker can't do it all. The children's workers can't do it all. No, there is a division of labor in the work of God. That's the way it should be. And may God help us then to find out, well, what am I to do? What does God want me to do in this gospel mission? Because he's something for you to do. It might just be there to sit and encourage God's servant. It certainly is to invite your loved ones in. This is an opportunity for you to do that. And so there is a role for us all to play, and there is a division of labor. I want you to note secondly then, note the unity of the laborers in their labors. The unified approach that should mark the labors of God's people is drawn to our attention there in the words of the verse number eight, where Paul reminds these Christians and he that watereth. Now note these next two words are one. They're one. Now they're not one in nature. They're two entities. They're two different men. Paul and Apollos, two different men, two different skill sets. And so they weren't one as it were. They didn't merge into one kind of being, a hybrid kind of a being. No, they were two separate identities. But Paul, he says, they are one. They are one in what? They are one in aim. They are one in purpose. They're one in heart. That's what they're one in. The laborer who waters that which has been planted does not dig up the seed. and undo the work of the planter. No, the waterer builds on the work of the planter because they have one objective in mind. And what is it? The reaping of a harvest. Both planter and waterer are working together to the same end. They are one in their work. They are one in their labour. God's people ought to work unitedly with the same end goal in view, the advancement of Christ's kingdom and of his name. How sad then it is to listen to men preach and they criticize the labors of other servants of God. Such forget that they, along with the one that they are criticizing, are both working to the same end under the same master. Paul was able to rejoice even when Christ was preached pretentiously. And so he wrote in Philippians 1, verse 18, what then, notwithstanding every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and therein do I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Oh may God see a united effort by us as a congregation in the weeks that lie ahead as we endeavor to see Christ's kingdom extended. God commands the blessing where the brethren to dwell together in unity. And so if there's an issue between you and another brother or sister, get it settled. The neighbors must be united. And oh, let us move out in harmony and in unity as we take the step of faith, even in the days and the weeks that lie ahead. I want you to note thirdly the divine companion in our neighbors, the divine companion in our neighbors. Note the words of the verse number nine again, for we are laborers together with God. Rather than ever seeing yourself as a laborer, But Paul does not say that we are laborers for God, but rather Paul says that we are laborers together with God. The Christian ought to see themselves not as a laborer for God, but as a laborer with God. And brethren and sisters, that makes all the difference. That makes all the difference. We have a divine companion who accompanies us in our labors, the Lord. Let me say something, and don't miss what I say. Success in our labors is not dependent on our capabilities. Success in our labors is based on our company, namely that God is with us. God is with us. After the disciples witnessed the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, Mark tells us in his closing verse of his gospel, Mark 16, verse 20, they went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, not for them, but with them, in step with them, alongside them, hand in hand with them. He could do that because what were they doing? They were preaching. They were doing what God told them to do. What did he tell them to do? He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and therefore these men could be sure that God would work with them. Why? Because they were doing God's work God's way. God must be working with us, and God can only work with us whenever we're doing as God would have us to do. And so the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word with signs following, and then he puts the word amen. It wouldn't be long until these men, that Mark speaks of in this closing verse of chapter 16, it isn't long before these men, it isn't long before they are attributed with doing in order to put it the right way up, because it was the wrong way up until those men here preached the gospel. And why, why were these men attributed with turning the world upside down? I'm convinced it was because God worked with them. Church, when we do God's work God's way, we can be assured that God will accompany us in our neighbors. And that's all we want for this mission. That's all I want for this mission. All I want for this mission is that the Lord will work with us. And brethren and sisters, that's not only what I want, that's all we need. That's all we need, the Lord working with us. Sometimes, you know, that means when God works, that God will harden the sinner's heart. We need to remember that too. When God works in the gospel, we often think, well, that always means that the souls are being converted. No, at times God may harden a man in his sin. At times he may soften the heart, but we'll leave that with how God would want to work. Oh, that God would work with us. And so there's one who is a companion with us in our work. We are neighbors together with God. God going with us, God going before us. May God do that even in coming weeks. There's a fourth thing to note in the chapter. This is the penultimate thing. in the words in verse seven, so then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth. Here's the true estimate that the laborer ought to have of themselves, that they are nothing without God. They are nothing without God. You see, the success of the gospel is entirely a matter for God. and is needed to convert a sinner. No one can. They can have the best of illustrations. They can have the greatest of jokes. Is it where I'm trying to get the sinner maybe a little bit relaxed? They can have the best structured sermon, the greatest of landings they used to talk about in Bible college that you're serving. in a nice journey, and then eventually getting the sermon down to land without any bumps. Sometimes I think it's always nearly a crash landing when I come to preach, but that's the way it's, that's the way we do it in Australia. And if you have a man who does that, my brethren and sisters, we need to remember that it takes the work of God, the Holy Spirit, and we believe in God, the Holy Spirit. We believe in the third person of the Holy Trinity. We believe in His necessary, His indispensable work when it comes to the converting of the sinner. We believe in that. And thus, we must understand that we are nothing. Neither is He anything. We're nothing. Nothing. All that the person can do is to convey the message of the gospel and pray that God will use it to bring forth a harvest in the lives of those who hear it. You know, sadly, in Christian circles today, we wrongly place evangelists and preachers and ministers on pedestals. We attribute success and God's work to them, and yet Paul reminds us here that such men are nothing. It's God who gives the increase. And the humble laborer will acknowledge that it is God who has blessed their neighbors. God has blessed their neighbors. I don't think they'll need to post it on social media. I think that individual will allow the Lord to make it known. May God find us humble enough that he's able to use even in his work in whatever area he finds us. There's one final thought from the chapter he that planteth and he that watereth are one, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. Paul informs us that our reward, the reward of the laborer, will correlate with their labor. Little labor, little reward. Much labor, much reward. Now when does that reward come? Well, that's a matter for God. It may come in this world. It'll certainly come in the world that is to come. For God is no man's debtor, and he will reward. And he reminds us that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. You see, the Christian labor can be assured from God's word that their labors are not in vain in the Lord. Notice a number of things about this reward. Very quickly, the reward is personal. Every man shall receive his own reward. I'll not be rewarded for your work. And you'll not be rewarded for my work. We will be rewarded with a fitting reward for our own work. It's our own work now. You'll not have, as it were, a surrogate, someone who has done work and then you're going to simply, as it were, come in and get the reward with regard to the work that they did. It doesn't work like that. Paul is very clear here what he says by the Spirit. He says that every man, every man without exception who has laboured, he says that that individual shall receive his own reward according to his own labours. And so it's personal. Not only that, but it's proportionate. The reward, notice what it says, Too often we think, well, we'll have no reward because there's been very little success. As we see it outwardly, but God does not reward according to success, it is according to labor. He that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully. He that soweth sternly reapeth sternly. Oh, let us not be work shy. in God's work, and when the appeal is made for laborers, let's be at the front of the queue and not at the back. Yes, I'll serve my Lord and my master. You know, brethren and sisters, we serve a good master. We serve a good master, and he will recompense us according to our labors. We'll leave that with him. You see, laborers is what we are. We're engaged in the greatest of works, the Lord's work. The Lord's work is the greatest of works. Oh, let's be found laboring for Christ in some way, in the days, the weeks, the months, the years that lie ahead. And may we make good on the song that we sing together, let us labor for the master. from the dawn till setting sun. Our labors are not in vain. Your labors are not in vain, child of God. You've labored long. You've labored for decades, years in this country. Your labors are not in vain in the Lord. And God has a reward proportionate to your labors. May no one be found without a reward on that final and great day. May God help us all, them to be neighbours together with God. And may God help us in these days to do our part and play our role in the task to which he has called each of us to. May the Lord bless these thoughts of ours. Let's bow briefly for a word of prayer together. Thank you for listening. Our loving Father, we're encouraged here to continue to work and to labour for Thee. We thank Thee for these simple truths, and yet Lord, how we need to be reminded of them. We thank Thee for the division of labour within God's work. And Lord, if all were hands, where would the hearing be? And Lord, if all were feet, where would the eyes and the seeing be? We understand that Thou hast in thy providence placed us in various ministries, various roles, and Lord, we thank thee for that. We submit to thy wisdom. God, at times we feel very inadequate, Lord, to the role to which thou hast called us to. Help us, we pray. Give us much of thy spirit, we ask. And Lord, we pray that thou will bless the labors of our hands. Lord, come by. in these days not because we have organized a gospel mission but simply lord we want to do what that was entrusted and commissioned by church to do to go into all the world and preach the gospel come lord and help us we pray lord if it means oh god that we have to give ourselves to this work who are before us tonight and those who are in great need. We pray these, our prayers, in and through the Savior's great name. Amen.