Do Justly: Being Zealous for Good Works That Exalt Jesus
I. COMBINING THE CRY FOR JUSTICE WITH WORKS OF JUSTICE
A. We are called to be workers of justice and lovers of mercy with a spirit of humility (Mic. 6:8).
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God? (Mic. 6:8)
B. We are called to be zealous for good works that exalt Jesus. We are to do works of justice and mercy that exalt
Jesus and not ourselves as we do them in the name of Jesus with a spirit of love.
14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special
people, zealous for good works. (Tit. 2:14)
C. We are called to make God’s reputation known among unbelievers by doing good works.
9 You are…His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you…12 That when they speak
against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation…15 For
this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- (1 Pet. 2:9-15)
1. Proclaiming the praises of Him: God is accused of indifference. God connects His name or reputation to His people
being zealous for good works that exalt Him. The Church is to make Jesus’ beauty known in their city and in the nations.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Mt. 5:16)
2. Glorify God: God is glorified by good works because they testify that His power can transform our lives from our
natural desire to live selfishly to embracing sacrificial love.
3. They speak again you: Unbelievers are naturally suspicious, critical and prejudiced against believers. They accuse
the Church of being no different than they are.
4. Put to silence: It is God’s plan to silence the accusation of men against Jesus, the Church and the truth by
consistently doing deeds of justice. Works of justice and mercy will triumph over false accusations and arguments
against God’s people.
5. The day of visitation: This includes the day they receive Jesus’ free salvation.
D. Believers are to be known for what we do more than what we do not do. It is not enough to merely avoid sin but we
must zealously do good works on Jesus’ terms (or for His reasons).
17 Whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of
God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 Jn. 3:17-18)
E. John the Baptist prepared the way by calling people to walk in justice and mercy. The house of prayer is to
function as the Father’s house with the forerunner spirit of Elijah (Mal. 4:5-6).
4 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD…10 What shall we do then? 11 He (John)
answered…, "He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
12 Then tax collectors…said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13 He said to them, "Collect no more than what is
appointed for you." 14 The soldiers asked him, saying, "What shall we do?" He said to them, "Do not intimidate anyone
or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages." (Lk. 3:4, 10-14)
F. Jesus taught that the foundation of justice is first established in night and day prayer. Justice is God making wrong
things right. Jesus requires night and day prayer as the most effective context to release justice. Prayer itself is a practical
expression of love that releases deliverance.
7 Now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night…? 8 I tell you that He will bring about
justice for them speedily. (Luke 18:7-8; NAS)
G. The two sides of God’s justice include judgment (punishment) to those who oppress others and refuse God’s
mercy and salvation (deliverance) to those who cry out to God for help.
H. The justice movement that Jesus is raising up cries out night and day and then overflows to do works of justice.
We seek to do outreach from prayer instead outreach without prayer.
I. IHOP’s mandate is to pursue justice first by intercession, then by consistent actions. Intercession followed by action
is necessary in the pursuit of justice. Social action focuses on feeding the poor, taking care of the needy, orphans,
widows, homeless, and starving. Justice includes helping to alleviate the oppression of abortion, poverty, misogyny,
racism (systemized prejudice), in the marketplace, law enforcement, medicine, education, employment, public services, etc.
II. ISAIAH 58: WORKS OF JUSTICE WITH LOVE FOR MERCY
A. Isaiah 58:1-12 gives us practical ways to do works of justice with mercy in a spirit of humility. Passion for Jesus
must result in zeal for good works for justice and mercy that exalts Jesus.
B. Isaiah points out the error of seeking God without helping others (Isa. 58:1-5). They felt satisfied and justified in
only seeking God without embracing works of justice and mercy.
C. They asked why God did not see or honor their regular fasting (Isa. 58:3). God said that they fasted to look devout
and to gain God’s favor on their business in order to continue to make large profits by not paying their employees properly
and by treating them roughly.
1 Tell My people their transgression…2 They seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways…they take delight in
approaching God. 3 “Why have we fasted,” they say, “and You have not seen?..." In the day of your fast you…exploit all
your laborers. 4 Indeed you fast for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. (Isa. 58:1-4)
D. The fast that pleases God is joined with works of justice and mercy (Isa. 58:6-10).
6 Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the
oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to
your house the poor…; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?...9 If
you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness… (Isa. 58:6-9)
1. We are to help relieve people from the bondage that results from the sinful practices and policies done by others
called bonds of wickedness, heavy burdens and yokes (Isa. 58:6).
2. We are to help with the practical needs of food, housing and clothing (Isa. 58:7-8).
3. We are to give respect to people instead of pointing our finger to demean them (Isa. 58:9). We must cease to say
things that insult and belittle people. We do not understand their whole situation and need compassion for their pain.
E. Seeking God must include these to be complete. What we do outside the prayer room is essential to what occurs
in it. True passion for Jesus includes zeal to free the oppressed, to help those who are cold, hungry, and homeless, and
ceasing from saying things against them.
F. Worship connects songs of love to Jesus with acts of love to the needy. Worship is love in action. The worship that
moves God’s heart flows from believers who are moved to touch the needy.
G. Isaiah described the promise that God gives (Isa. 58:8-12).
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall
go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer…11 The
LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered
garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 12 Those from among you shall build the old waste places;
you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer
of Streets to Dwell In. (Isa. 58:8-12)
H. God wondered not because of the lack of justice, but because no one did anything about it.
14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off…15 The LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was
no justice. 16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought
salvation for Him... (Isa. 59:14-16)
I. Self-centeredness is the biggest hindrance to compassion. Some say it is too intense to help with human trafficking.
What they’re really saying is, “my self-preserving orientation prevents me from helping those being systematically
brutalized”. This is an indication of our preference for comfort over compassion. “My comfort is more important than your
plight.” Many ask, “What will it cost me to help others?" We must ask, "What will it cost others if I do help?" Are we willing
to let our agenda be rerouted for their sake? (Benji Nolot).
III. THE DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP OF THE FIRST AND SECOND COMMANDMENTS
A. The greatest anointing of the Spirit is to walk in the two great commandments by loving Jesus and our neighbor
with all our heart. It is impossible to love Jesus and not love people more. Loving God and others are bound up as one,
as the visible measurement of our invisible love. Love is both the goal (Mt. 7:12; Rom. 13:8-10) and source behind the
teaching of the Law.
36 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 The second is like it: 'You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Mt. 22:36-40)
B. Our love for others is a reflection of our love for Jesus and is the greatest work of the Spirit.
10 God is not unjust to forget your…love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the
saints… (Heb. 6:10)
C. There is a dynamic relationship of the first and second commandments and the prayer room. We love God inwardly
in our thoughts and outwardly by actions, especially by serving the needy. In being loved by God and in loving God in
return, we are best equipped to love others. We sustain compassion for others by the gratitude and joy of abundantly
receiving it from God. We value others in the overflow of seeing how valuable God is and how valuable we are to God.
D. By loving Jesus, we are most able to consistently overflow in love for others. We love others in the overflow of
being energized by the Spirit. In prayer, we acquire the oil or fuel that is necessary to walk out the first commandment.
Christianity is an on-going encounter of love with a Person. Prayer represents only a small percentage of the many ways
we express love for God.
3 Those who were foolish…took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil… (Mt. 25:3-4)
E. We gain the “fuel of intimacy” in times of prayer by connecting and relating to God as a Person. This empowers
us to love God and man. Prayer aligns our heart with the reality that we are living before His eyes. This is the key to not
burning out in ministry to others. The Spirit will sustain us with compassion that moves our heart with the things that move
His heart.
F. We will never meet all the needs, but together we can make a difference in the lives of some by doing small acts
of compassion in a consistent way.
G. God desires to give us creative ideas on how we can help the oppressed. As we change the primary dream of our
heart from getting more money, honor and comfort to connecting with His heart and exalting His name, then He will give
creative ideas on how He will use us.
10 We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk
in them. (Eph. 2:10)
H. God is raising up people who will do great exploits without being intimidated by the obstacles. They are fearless
against all odds. They will have courage in the face of real loss and danger.