STEADFAST AND UNMOVEABLE
1 Corinthians 15:51 - 58 (NASB) 51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
There is a story that goes like this:
Years ago, before the day when she was moth-balled and transformed into a floating museum in Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the largest, most powerful battleships that the world has ever known, the USS Missouri, was cruising off the coast of Nova Scotia in a gale wind blowing and whipping the waves into a frenzy. The great ship, nicknamed the “Mighty Mo”, commanded the seas wherever it would sail. Every ship that would approach her would quickly give way for no one would dare to challenge her 16” guns that were capable of firing a 2000 lb shell for over 20 miles with near pinpoint accuracy.
Long after dark the ocean would rise and fall as the gale winds continued. Then suddenly, dead ahead a light broke through the darkness. The alarm was sounded and the captain was called to the bridge. Surely this was just a passing freighter on its way to a safe harbor.
For an hour the captain tracked the movement of the light but it seemed to be heading straight for the Missouri, not moving even 1 degree to the left or right to avoid collision and getting ever closer in the darkness. Perhaps their radar had jammed, or perhaps they just simply had not seen the lights of the Missouri dead ahead.
The captain decided that it was prudent to send out a warning call to the approaching ship. “Approaching ship, turn 15 degrees south. You are on a collision course with USS Missouri.” The call was answered with this message. “USS Missouri. You are ordered to turn 45 degrees North. You are on a collision course.”
The captain of the Missouri became very angry. The very idea that anyone would challenge his right-of-way on the open seas was appalling to him. He sent out a second message, “Approaching vessel, this is the captain of Navy Vessel, BB11, USS Missouri. You are ordered to turn 15 degrees South and yield right of way.”
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The answer came back, “US Navy vessel BB11, USS Missouri, this is the Seaman 1st Class on duty at the Nova Scotia Lighthouse. You are ordered to turn 45 degrees north.”
The captain of the great battleship, with “egg on his face”, quickly ordered the helm to turn 45 degrees north to avoid grounding his ship upon the rocks.
I’m sure that this story isn’t true. It never really happened. But it does serve to make a point for the message that I have for you.
It was very clear to the captain of the ship that this lighthouse was immovable. He knew that no matter how big and powerful his ship was, there was no way he was going to move that lighthouse.
Intro
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christians would be as immovable as that lighthouse? Wouldn’t it be awesome to see the body of Christ so steadfast on course for Gods Kingdom? Reaching the lost, and sharing the hope we have in Him. Think about the impact Christians could have on the world. Think of the impact just we in this room could have on our community. Think about the impact on this church. Think about the impact we would have on our friends. Think about the impact we would have on our family? If everyone who is counting on entering into eternity based on what Jesus Christ has done back 2000 years ago would stand fast and be as immovable as that Lighthouse we would see such an amazing revival that it would shake the world.
(Slide 1)The great commission
Right before Jesus ascended into heaven He gave His disciples a mission. He gave them a job to do. He left them with a task that we call “the great commission. This commission extends down to every person who calls themselves a follower of Christ.
What Jesus said was to “go” in Matthew 28:18 go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in£ the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Jesus Left His disciples with a task and that was to carry on the work that Jesus had started. He wanted them to keep the faith going. Basically to do all they could to spread the gospel about what His death and resurrection has accomplished.
(Slide)_Kingdom connectors
All those who confess to be saved by grace are also part of this commission. We are to be “Kingdom connectors” Our main task that Jesus left us to accomplish was to connect people with His kingdom, Hence the term Kingdom connectors.
Death/Trouble
You see we have a big problem in the world and that’s the fact that we all die. It’s unavoidable. Due to the effects of sin we die. (Wages of sin is death) God told Adam that if he ate from the tree he would die. Because he and eve disobeyed God sin entered the world and each and every one of us will one day come face to face with the reality of death.
Just the concept of death sends chills up the arms of many people including Christians. No one likes the concept but it’s a reality. A harsh reality
Life after death/Grace in the text
But God is good isn’t He?
Many people have a hard time with believing in life after death. The Sadducees which was a large religious group during Jesus’ time didn’t believe in life after death or the resurrection. Also some Corinthian believers had a problem with it. 1 Cor 15 was basically Paul response to the Corinthians skepticism. The whole chapter is basically Paul supporting the fact that after we die life will go on. The believer in Christ will get a new Body. The old corrupted body will be replaced with a new one. A body that is imperishable. We know from scripture that this new body will be free from sickness and pain. We know that we will live forever in Gods paradise. This is what Paul was teaching the Corinthian skeptics. The fact that not only was Jesus’ raised from the dead but all those that put their faith and trust in Him will be raised also.
Jesus resurrection/ center truth
The fact that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead is the center most truth of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection we as Christians have nothing.
Paul puts it this way in chapter 15 of his first letter to the Corinthians 1 Cor 15:12 12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Basically saying that if Christ has been raised so will we: But he has and that’s what is so special about our faith
(Slide 1) Our response to the resurrection
My question tonight is how are we as believers suppose to respond to the fact of life after death? How are we supposed to respond to what Jesus has made possible for us? When we come face to face with the reality of life after death and accept it what are we to do with it?
Paul spells it out for the Corinthians and us in verse 58 in Chapter 15 of his letter to them.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Steadfast and immovable that’s how we are supposed to respond.
Paul tells that because we have been redeemed, we need to be steadfast and immovable doing Gods work. That’s our motivation!
If there is one thing that should predominantly characterize every believer in Christ is that we should always abounding in his work.
(Slide 3) Steadfast
The dictionary renders steadfast as meaning:
1. Fixed or unchanging; steady.
2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving.
3. marked by firm determination or resolution
Does this mark your attitude towards the works of the Lord?
Is your life a life that is fixed or unchanging, one that is marked by firm determination or resolution when it comes to being a kingdom connector? When it comes to the work of the Lord? Are we steadfast?
The bible tells us we need to let nothing move us from this.
The text tells us to be steadfast and immovable that we need to be “abounding in the works of the Lord.”
I need to talk about abounding because it added depth to steadfast because by it we can be fixed or unchanging in doing mediocre work
(Slide 5) We are to abound
Let’s talk about that word abounding for a moment.
It is the Greek word per-is-syoo’-o which come from the word per-is-sos’ which means
1. over and above, more than is necessary,
2. exceeding abundantly, supremely
3. something further, much more than all,
4. superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon
When we do the Lords work, which we all must do, Paul encourages us to go over and above, to do more then is necessary, to do much more then all.
So we need to be steadfast (fixed or unchanging) in doing much more then is necessary in God’s work.
Question: Does that characterize your life in any way?
I mean are we set and ready to go? This definition to me sets a great picture of what we need to be doing in the face of the gospel.
That’s a good question, especially considering we are going into a building project. Are we as the Saints of God mentally and spiritually prepared for all those we are expecting God to send here? Are we prepared to do the work of the Lord?
I was just having this conversation with Mrs. Sue. But it won’t happen unless we work at it. Unless we are intentional about it. It wont happen unless “we GO!” and make disciples of all nations. That sounds very intentional to me.
We are supposed to be like that lighthouse. (Explain)
We as God’s children should be like that light. We need to be the light of the world right? Jesus says
(Slide 2) Mat 5:14-16 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
And for the most part many Christians are. There are many Christians thru out the world that are wonderful beacons of God light. There also are many here tonight who reflect the light of Christ were ever they Go. We have some wonderful servants of God here in this church and I am proud to serve side by side with them.
But the question is “Are we as steadfast and immovable in it as this scripture says we should be?” Many Christian’s moments of working for the Lords Kingdom. We see some here and there. Little encouraging sparks of His flame.
But I am here to tell you that we can see a revival among the saints of God if we would get ourselves grounded In Him and be immovable in this endeavor. If the Saints would commit to always abounding in the works of the Lord, Gods word tell us that our work will not be in vain. People will be saved, lives will be changed. There will be hope for the hopeless…………. People who are headed into eternity to face eternal destruction will be saved, if we will be steadfast in this.
Finger of God (story)
An old deacon was leading a group in prayer when he used one of his stereotypical phrases, which was “Oh Lord, touch the unsaved with Thy finger.”
As he said this particular phrase of the prayer, he stopped short.
Other members came to his side and asked if he were ill,
Because as he stopped praying right in the middle of his prayer.
“No,” he replied, “but something seemed to say to me, “Thou art the finger.”
Here he was asking God to touch people with his finger not realizing that he is the finger. Can you relate to that? I can.
We can’t expect others to do the work God has set for us to do. I can’t sit back and assume someone else is going to do it
Sometimes our hearts aren’t in it. We want so much from God, but we aren’t willing to give back. If it takes us out of our comfort zone of what we are used to, you can forget it.
People are dieing Why is this important?
Why is that? I would like to say because Paul knew what God knows and that is that lives are at stake. People are perishing by the moment. Every few seconds someone come face to face with the reality of death, and we are God ambassadors to the living that there is salvation waiting for them.
Shouldn’t that be important to us? It was important to Paul and you know it is important to God. He thought it was important and urgent enough to come down and die to fix the problem.
So how can we be apathetic about being Kingdom connectors?
That’s what we are supposed to do. Remember? Connect people with God’s kingdom. We each play a part in this. I also understand and agree that we all play a different part in it. Not all are evangelists, not all are prophets but all have gifts and God is expecting us to use them to their fullest extent That’s why we have been given them.
You know the best part of the scripture is the ending where Paul says
“Knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
We can be sure of one thing. And that’s what we do for Gods kingdom will never go unfruitful. It will never be a waste of time.
(Story of something in vain)
There have been many things I have done in vain before. But I can be rest assures that all I have done for the Lord will ultimately pay of somehow or some way. And if its not in this lifetimes that’s fine. I know that I know that I know, that one day as Paul puts it in verse.
51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
is this enough of a reward for you?
That’s enough reward for me. That’s all that I need to look forward to.
So we need to be steadfast (fixed or unchanging) in doing much more then is necessary in God’s work.
(SLIDE 6) Do you want to be a “Kingdom Connector?”
My question tonight is where do you stand? Do you want to be a kingdom connector? Because God is looking for a few good men and women who will take a stand. He is looking for those that are willing to be steadfast and immovable. (To do more then is necessary; to do much more then all)
Some might say to themselves I might not have been doing the job I should have in this area. Some may feel the need to repent and turn from their apathy for Gods work.
Some might say, yes lord, I do put my faith and trust In Jesus and you have saved me from certain destruction. Therefore, because of this I do want to be steadfast and immovable in abounding in your work. Sign me up, teach me how, and strengthen me.
Lay hands and pray for you!
