1COR 15:58 “KEEPING ON KEEPING ON INTO 2009 ”
I DON’T KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE A LOVER OF BOXING AS A SPORT OR NOT BUT WHEN A BOXER HAS HAD ENOUGH THE TRAINER CAN ‘THROW IN THE TOWEL’ THIS SIGNIFIES WE JUST CANT GO ON ANY FURTHER….. WE OFTEN USE THE TURN OF PHRASE TO SAY WERE GIVING UP.
IF WERE HONEST THERE MAY BE TIMES IN OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES THAT WE FEEL LIKE GIVING UP IN A PARTICULAR GIVEN SITUATION. BUT OUR PURPOSE IS TO STAND FIRM, TO CONTINUE FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT, GIVING UP IS NOT REALLY AN OPTION.
IF WE WERE TO PICTURE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AS A BOXING MATCH EVERY CHRISTIAN WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE The SOUTH PAW JOE CALZAGE , NICK NAMED THE PRIDE OF WALES OR THE ITALIAN DRAGON. WHO HAS HAD 46 FIGHTS AND WON 46 FIGHTS YES HE HAS HAD MANY A BRUISING ROUND WITH OPPOSITION HE HAS BEEN KNOCKED DOWN ON THE CANVAS BUT HE HAS GOT BACK UP, HE HAS STOOD FIRM , HE HAS GIVEN HIMSELF FULLY TO THE TASK AND HAS COME OUT VICTORIOUS.
HERE THE APOSTLE PAUL IS URGING US TO JUST THAT, ‘BROTHERS AND SISTERS’ HE IS NOT ONLY ADDRESSING THOSE 1ST CENTURY CHRISTIANS IN CORINTH BUT US TODAY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
1COR 15:58. THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, STAND FIRM, LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOUR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS A GREAT LEADER, WHO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, HE STIRRED OTHERS TO MOVE AHEAD IN DIFFICULT TIMES, HE ENCOURAGED HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO DO THE SAME. WHAT WAS THE GOAL IN SIGHT WELL THE THEREFORE IS THE KEY TO FIND OUR ULTIMATE GOAL WHICH IS A CAUSE FOR KEEPING ON KEEPING ON …
V56 THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN, AND THE POWER OF SIN IS THE LAW. BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. ULTIMATE VICTORY IS GUARANTEED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
WE WHO ARE PERISHABLE WILL BE CLOTHED WITH THE IMPERISHABLE, AND WE WHO ARE MORTAL WILL BE CLOTHED WITH IMMORTALITY WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS! THIS IS OUR CAUSE OUR GOAL OUR ULTIMATE DESTINATION IN VIEW OF THIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS CONTINUE TO STAND FIRM IN THE WORK OF THE LORD INTO 2009.
1) BE STEADFAST IN THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD 2009
STAND FIRM, LET NOTHING MOVE YOU
WHY IS PAUL CALLING THESE BELIEVERS @ CORINTH TO STAND FIRM TO LET NOTHING MOVE YOU?
THE REASON IS THERE WERE THOSE AMONGST THEM WHO WERE DISTORTING THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL. DENYING CHRIST’S RESURRECTION AND THE BELIEVERS FROM THE DEAD - BY SAYING THERE WAS NO RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. 1COR 15:12 – 19 READ .
V29 -33 HE POINTS OUT THE FOOLISHNESS OF WHAT THEY ARE SAYING……
V29 WHY BOTHER WITH BAPTISM – IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION 30 WHY BOTHER RISKING MY LIFE IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD? THEN JUST LIVE FOR TODAY THEN HE QUOTES ISAIAH “LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE.”
V33 HE CALLS THEM NOT BE MISLEAD “BAD COMPANY CORRUPTS GOOD CHARACTER” QUOTE GREEK POET MENANDER 342-291 B.C TO COME BACK TO THEIR SENSES AS THEY OUGHT - SOME ARE IGNORANT OF GOD. THEY SAY IGNORANCE BLISS, BUT IGNORANCE IN THE THINGS OF GOD IS FOOLISH AND WILL CAUSE INDIVIDUALS TO FALL.
I REMEMBER A COUPLE WHO HAD SUPPOSEDLY COME TO KNOW THE LORD – IN FACT I WAS VERY CLOSE TO THEM - THERE SON HAD BEEN SAVED AT A DRUG REHAB CENTRE AND IT APPEARED TO HAVE A BIG IMPACT UPON THEM BOTH – WE WENT THROUGH A BIBLE STUDY TOGETHER IT APPEARED TO BE GOING ON WELL – ATTHIS POINT THE HUSBAND HAD PROFESSED FAITH AND IS WIFE DID DURING THE STUDIES –BUT OVER TIME THEY STARTED TO QUESTION THE SCRIPTURES - WHAT IT WAS SAYING – THEY BEGAN TO BE INFLUENCED BY IMPOSING HUMAN THOUGHT ON THE SCRIPTURES – GOING OFF ON TANGENTS- THEN HE MEET UP WITH A GNOSTIC WHO FURTHER LED HIM INTO ERROR . I ENDEAVOURED TO REDIRECXT HIS MIND TO THE SCRIPTURES AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS DOING HIS UPMOST TO INFLUENCE OTHERS WITH HIS FOOLISH IDEAS. ULTIMATLY HE LEFT THE CHURCH AND TODAY HE IS NOWHERE, HE WENT ON TO BELIEVE THAT ALL RELIGIONS ARE ON ROUTE TO GOD.
HERE WAS A MAN (GROUP) WHO WERE SINNING AND CAUSING DISRUPTION IN THE CHURCH HE WAS IGNORANT OF GOD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON IN CORINTH AND IT NEEDED ADDRESSING BECAUSE THEY ALLOWED THE ERROR TO GO ON TO THEIR SHAME V34 .
GOD’S WORD WARNS
JESUS WARNED US TO MATT.7.15.WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS. JESUS SAID MATT 24;10-14. MANY WILL TURN AWAY FROM THE FAITH IN THE END TIMES V24. EVEN DECEIVING THE ELECT IF THAT WERE POSSIBLE. 2 PET.2.1 PETER TELLS US THEY INTRODUCE HERESIES.
MARTIN LUTHER (10 NOVEMBER, 1483 – 18 FEBRUARY, 1546) WAS A GERMAN MONK,[1] THEOLOGIAN, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, FATHER OF PROTESTANTISM,[2][3][4][5] AND CHURCH REFORMER WHOSE IDEAS INFLUENCED THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION AND CHANGED THE COURSE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.[6]
LUTHER’S THEOLOGY CHALLENGED THE AUTHORITY OF THE PAPACY BY HOLDING THAT THE BIBLE IS THE ONLY INFALLIBLE SOURCE OF RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY[7] AND THAT ALL BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS UNDER JESUS ARE A UNIVERSAL PRIESTHOOD.[8] ACCORDING TO LUTHER, SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT OF GOD, RECEIVED ONLY BY TRUE REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN JESUS AS THE MESSIAH, A FAITH GIVEN BY GOD AND UNMEDIATED BY THE CHURCH.
SO ITS IN THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD - THAT WE MUST STAND FIRM AND LET NOTHING MOVE YOU, KEEPING WATCH OVER THOSE WHO DISTORT THE TRUTH WITH ERROR. WHETHER THAT’S INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH OR WHOLE RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE IN ERROR.
LIKE A LIGHTHOUSE BUILT UPON A ROCK IT STANDS FIRM AGAINST THE BATTERING OF THE WAVES, IT CONTINUES SHINING ITS LIGHT OUT IN THE STORMY WATERS DIRECTING VESSELS AWAY FROM THE ROCKS WHICH CAN SO EASILY BRING SHIPWRECK AND GUIDING THE VESSELS SAFELY INTO HARBOR. SO LETS BE STEADFAST IN THE TRUTH OF GODS WORD IN 2009
2) BE DEDICATED IN SERVING GOD IN THE LOCAL CHURCH 2009
ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD.
WHO REMEMBERS DEDICATION: PERFORMED BY ROY CASTLE.
DEDICATION, DEDICATION
DEDICATION, THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED
IF YOU WANNA BE THE BEST
IF YOU WANNA BEAT THE REST
OH-OH DEDICATION’S WHAT YOU NEED;
IF YOU WANNA BE A RECORD BREAK-ER, OOOOOH.
FRIENDS IF WE ARE GOING ALWAYS GIVE OURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD THEN WE WILL NEED DEDICATION. LOOK HOW PAUL STIPULATES IT - ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY ITO THE WORK OF THE LORD. THIS IS WHAT WE NEED MORE OF IN OUR CHURCH AS WE MOVE ON INTO 2009 100% DEDICATION TO THE WORK OF THE LORD @ CBC .
HAVE YOU GOT DEDICATION? TO GET THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION ASK YOURSELF, HOW INVOLVED ARE YOU IN SERVING THE LORD HERE AT CBC. ARE YOU COMMITTED TO THE CHURCHES CONSTITUTION (STATEMENT OF FAITH), DO YOU ENDEAVOUR TO DO YOUR UPMOST TO FULFILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES,
IF SO THAT’S DEDICATION.
ARE YOU DEDICATED TO CORPORATE PRAYER - TO THE STUDY OF GODS WORD - TO CORPORATE WORSHIP MEETING TOGETHER IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CHURCH FAMILY - ARE YOU ACTIVELY SEEKING OUT WAYS TO SERVE AND SUPPORT THE LIFE OF GODS CHURCH @ CBC ARE YOU SEEKING OUT OTHERS TO COME TO KNOW HIM, IF SO THAT’S DEDICATION.
MAYBE YOUR ALREADY HAVE A BUSY DIARY AND WONDER HOW YOU COULD POSSIBLE DO ANYTHING BUT WAIT A MINUTE, IF WE TO DO A PIE CHART AND DIVIDE IT UP INTO YOUR DAILY WEEK OF ACTIVITIES HOW MUCH WOULD THERE BE GIVEN TO THE LIFE OF SERVING THE CHURCH HERE @ CBC?
• PIE CHART ACTIVITY
BECAUSE PAUL STATES: ALWAYS GIVE YOUR SELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD
IF THAT’S UNCOMFORTABLE READING - THAT’S GOOD BECAUSE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO SERVING THIS LOCAL CHURCH – GOD IS AFTER DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE THE LOCAL CHURCH IN 2009 AND BEYOND.
• THE LIFE OF THE EARLY CHURCH DIDN’T SPRING UP FROM THE BOTTOM UP, NOR FROM THE TOP DOWN. PAUL SCANLON WRITES OF MEETING A BAPTIST PASTOR WHO FOR TWENTY YEARS HAD BEEN IN MINISTRY AT THE SAME CHURCH. HE AND HIS WIFE HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AND FINISHED UP VERY ILL ON MEDICATION. I WAS SPEAKING TO HIM AND SHOCKED TO HEAR HE WAS NOW A PUB LANDLORD. I ASKED HIM WHAT HAPPENED?
• “ I JUST GOT SO WORN OUT TRYING TO GET THE PEOPLE TO COMMIT, TO SERVE, TO GIVE AND TO GET BEHIND ANYTHING I SAID TO THEM.’ HE SAID, ‘WE GOT SO DISCOURAGED.’ HOWEVER HE MENTIONED THAT HE LOVED BEING A PUB LANDLORD. I ASKED HIM WHY? HE SAID ‘MY DRINKERS ARE DEVOTED ALL BY THEMSELVES. I’VE NEVER HAD TO SEND A FLYER OUT, REMINDING THEM TO COME BACK. I’VE NEVER HAD TO PHONE THEM UP TO SAY YOU WILL COME TONIGHT…. IN FACT I HAVE TO RING A BELL TO ACTUALLY GET THEM OUT OF THIS PUB. I NEVER SAW THAT IN THE 20 YEARS OF MY MINISTRY.
• TRUE DEVOTION TO CHURCH LIFE AND GROWTH WILL BE MANIFESTED IN THIS TYPE OF DEVOTION COLLECTIVLEY.
• THIS WHAT IT MEANS TO ALWAYS GIVE YOUR SELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD .
BUT WE SHOULDN’T BE DEDICATED TO SERVING THE LORD OUT OF FEAR BUT BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE TOWARDS US.
.
THE GRACE OF GOD HAS BEEN SHOWN TOWARDS US IN CHRIST- HE ALWAYS GAVE HIMSELF FULLY TO HIS FATHERS WORK HE WAS DEDICATED TO IT - HE SERVED OTHERS – HE WORKED TOGETHER WITH HIS DISCIPLES –THEY WERE A TEAM – THEY BUILT ONE ANOTHER UP - HE MINISTERED TO THE SICK THE HURTING – HE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DISENFRANCHISED – HE ALONE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE SO THAT YOU AND I MIGHT HAVE LIFE. HE POURED OUT HIS GRACE TOWARDS US………
THE APOSTLE JOHN 1:14THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONGST US AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY SON WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.
THE ONLY RESPONSE TO SUCH UNDESERVED KINDNESS IS TO GIVE OURSELVES ALWAYS AND FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD…. TO BE DEDICATED TOGETHER IN SERVICE…..
3) BE ASSURED THAT GREAT THINGS ARE IN STORE FOR 2009 AND BEYOND
• BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOUR LABOUR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN
ASSURES US OF THE FUTURE :PAUL WANTS HIS HEARERS TO SEE THE END GOAL AND TO KNOW THAT ALL THAT THEY DO FOR THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN. HE WANTS THEM TO KNOW THAT THE END RESULT IS VICTORY - GLORY - CHANGED INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST - CLOTHED IN IMMORTALITY V51 -53 .
PAUL HAS THIS ASSURANCE IN HIS OWN HEART AND MIND WHICH ENABLES HIM TO KNOW THAT HIS LABOURS ARE NOT IN VAIN. THIS ASSURANCE NEEDS TO POSSES OUR OWN HEARTS AND MINDS AS WE ENTER INTO A NEW YEAR. AS WE ENTER INTO ANOTHER YEAR WITH THE LORD SERVING HIM, ALL THAT WE DO IS NOT IN VAIN. A GLORIOUS OUTCOME AWAITS.
AN ELDERLY COUPLE OF MISSIONARIES HAD SERVED GOD FOR 50 YEARS IN A REMOTE AFRICAN VILLAGE, THEY HAD RETURNED TO THE U.S.A. FOR A WELL EARNED RETIREMENT. WHEN THEY ARRIVED HOWEVER, NO ONE WAS THERE TO GREET THEM BECAUSE OF SOME CONFUSION AT THE MISSION OFFICE. THEY HAD NO ONE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR SUITCASES AND TRUNKS, AND NO ONE TO MOVE THEM INTO THEIR HOME. THE OLD MAN COMPLAINED TO HIS WIFE, “WE’VE COME HOME AFTER ALL THESE YEARS AND THERE’S NO ONE WHO CARES.”
THE MAN’S BITTERNESS GREW AS THEY SETTLED INTO THEIR NEW HOME. HIS WIFE, A BIT FED UP WITH HIS COMPLAINING, SUGGESTED THAT HE TAKE UP THE MATTER WITH GOD. SO THE MAN WENT INTO HIS BEDROOM AND SPENT TIME IN PRAYER. WHEN HE CAME OUT HE HAD A NEW LOOK ON HIS FACE, WHICH PROMPTED HIS WIFE TO ASK WHAT HAD HAPPENED. “WELL,” HE REPLIED “I TOLD GOD THAT I’VE COME HOME AND NO ONE CARES.” “AND WHAT DID HE SAY?” SHE ASKED. HE SAID “YOU’RE NOT HOME YET.”
YOU MAY HAVE SERVED FOR MANY YEARS IN A PLACE WHERE NO ONE NOTICES YOU OR CARES FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOUR LABOURS APPEAR WITH THE HUMAN EYE TO BE IN VAIN. BUT GOD SEES AND CARES WHAT YOU’VE DONE. ONE DAY WHEN WE REACH HER ETERNAL HOME “ HE WILL REWARD US FOR OUR LABOURS THEY WILL NEVER BE IN VAIN RATHER HE WILL SAY WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT 1COR4.5. IN THE MEANTIME LET’S BE FAITHFUL.
PAUL ASSURES THAT OUR PRESENT LABORS ARE NOT IN VAIN. IF WERE HONEST WE ALL HAVE A TENDENCY TO ALLOW DISCOURAGEMENTS TO GET ON TOP OF US – AND AS A CHURCH WE HAVE HAD OUR DISCOURAGEMENTS AND DIFFICULTIES TOGETHER NO-ONE IS DENYING THAT - BUT DON’T LET IT CLOUD YOUR VISION. BECAUSE DISCOURAGEMENTS – DIFFICULTIES ARE ALL PART OF BECOMING A HEALTHY CHURCH. IT’S PART AND PARCEL OF PREPARING US FOR OUR FUTURE GLORY.
SO DON’T BE LIKE THE MAN WHO DECIDED TO JOIN A MONASTERY AND ONE OF THE RULES OF THE GROUP WAS THAT YOU WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO SPEAK TWO WORDS EVERY TEN YEARS. AT THE END OF TEN YEARS HE SAID, "BAD FOOD!"
TEN MORE YEARS WENT BY AND HE SAID, "HARD BED!" FINALLY, ON HIS 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH THE BROTHERS, HE THUNDERED, "I QUIT!" AND THE PRIEST IN CHARGE RESPONDED, "YOU MIGHT AS WELL. ALL YOU DO IS COMPLAINING ANYWAY."
DON’T LET DISCOURAGEMENT - DIFFICULTIES – DISAGREEMENTS - CLOUD THE TRUE PICTURE OF WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE AND OUR LIVES TOGETHER. SO OFTEN WITH GODS WORK WE CANNOT ALWAYS SEE IT BECAUSE THE CHANGES SO OFTEN TAKE PLACE IN THE HEART AND MIND. AS I LOOK BACK AT THE WORK HERE @ CBC I SEE THAT OUR PAST/PRESENT LABOURS HAVE NOT BEEN IN VAIN IN 2008
• WE HAVE SEEN 5 BAPTISMS IN 2008.
• ONE CONVERSION.
• A PERSON DEDICATING THEIR LIFE BACK TO THE LORD.
• WE HAVE MINISTERED TO A MARRIED COUPLE SUSTAINING MARRIAGE.
• WE HAVE HELPED A WOMAN GRIPPED BY THE OCCULT CONSIDER CHRIST.
• WE HAVE SEEN NEW PEOPLE COME AMONGST US.
• 6 PEOPLE HAVE COME INTO CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.
• PEOPLE IN THE FELLOWSHIP ARE TAKING UP NEW MINISTRY RESPONSIBILITIES.
• MORE OF US ARE MEETING TOGETHER FOR FELLOWSHIP TEACHING OF THE WORD AND PRAYER.
• WE HAVE FACILITATED THE DISTRICTED NURSES TO USE OUR BUILDING AS A PLACE OF PRAYER AND SUPPORT FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY.
• WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE WORK OF OPERATION XMAS CHILD AND SEEN 10000 BOXES GO TO ROMANIA
• WE CONTINUE TO MINISTER INTO THE LIVES OF THE ELDERLY @ CHERRY TREES.
• WE HAVE BEGAN THE MONTHLY SUPPORT OF A PERUVIAN EVANGELIST
SO AS I LOOK BACK OVER 2008 HERE @ CBC I THANK GOD FOR WHAT HAS BEEN. AS I LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF 2009 I THANK FOR WHAT IS TO COME BECAUSE GOD IS AT WORK AMONGST US AND HE TELLS ME THAT……..
OUR LABOURS IN THE LORD ARE NOT IN VAIN .
SO AS WE GO INTO 2009 LET US BE LIKE THE UNDISPUTED WELSH DRAGON JOE CALZAGE HIMSELF - AND NEVER THROW IN THE TOWEL – LETS BECOME UNDISPUTED CHAMPIONS BECAUSE IN CHRIST WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS.
1COR 15:58. THEREFORE, MY DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, STAND FIRM, LET NOTHING MOVE YOU. ALWAYS GIVE YOURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LABOUR IN THE LORD IS NOT IN VAIN
