Get your walk right!
July 14, 2019
1 Corinthians 15:57-58, Romans 8:1, 5
1. We fight from victory; not for victory. 1 Corinthians 15:57; Romans 8:1
2. Be immovable in 2019. 1 Cor. 15:58
3. Give your best to Kingdom work. 1 Cor. 15:58, Romans 8:5
Key words: victory, work, firm, kingdom
Key verse: ‘there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...’ -Romans 8:1a
Open: Burn the Ships
BURN THE SHIPS
Burn The Ship was born from an idea that originated in 1519. That year, Hernán Cortés set sail to Veracruz, Mexico with his crew. Upon arrival, Cortés' men became weary and scared, with hopes of turning back home to their old life.
As legend has it, Cortez had the men burn their ships, leaving no option but to press on! Their ability to retreat to their previous way of life was gone; their safety net had been removed.
The burning of those ships represented much more than a separation from old ways. The same fire that set the ships ablaze also allowed Cortés men to complete their mission and be a part of something greater than themselves.
Burning our ships means there is no turning back to old habits and ways. In this world we wrestle with all kinds of different physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual battles. To allow great change in our lives, we must find the root of those struggles - our own ships that can be so tempting to sail back on - and burn them.
1. We fight from victory; not for victory.
1 Cor. 15:57, Rom. 8:1,
Phil. 1:6, ‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’
1 John 5:4-‘For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world.’
‘I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.’ -Phil. 4:13
‘Little children you are from God and have overcome them. for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’1 John 4:4
-Warren Wiersbe quote, ‘Outlook determines outcome.’
“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that nothing can ever change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated, but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.”
-Identity quote from Tullian Tchividjian
“Your identity is firmly anchored in Christ’s accomplishment, not yours; his strength, not yours; his performance, not yours; his victory, not yours.”
-R.C. Sproul quote on victory
“By his life, death and resurrection, our Savior has conquered our enemies and by His Spirit he has granted us to share in the victory.”
All these authors are saying this - ‘The Victory is won!’ Christ did it. It is finished.
-You don’t have to get on a Cross. Jesus did that.
-You don’t have to live perfectly. Jesus did that.
-You just have to believe it. The victory is yours. Fight from it; not for it.
2. Be immovable for 2019. 1 Cor. 15:58
‘I’m not backing down, stepping back, shutting up or sitting down!’ I’m here to stay; set for God’s good plan for us.
This is the message Paul has in 1 Corinthians 15:58. Be firm. Steadfast. Believe and don’t back down.
In 2019, what will change for you? Have you set new goals? Have a stronger drive to achieve something? Wanting to renew your walk with Christ? Or should I say ‘be a force’ for the kingdom!
God is looking for committed followers. Not casual, carnal Christians.
Where are you in your walk? It’s put up time. We live in a day when the stakes are high, spiritually.
There are hurting people in sad situations. They need Christians love them and point them to Jesus.
You gotta know who you believe in. Stand firm in it. And stand up for our Lord.
Illustration of Immovable:
Do you know what it means to sacrifice? Read this statement by a young African pastor.
Found among his papers in Zimbabwe after he was martyred for his Christian faith. It is the moving testimony of a martyr.
I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.
My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.
I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.
I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.
I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!
What does it mean to be immovable?
A. Fixed. In what you believe. 1 Cor. 15:3-4, “for I passed on to you as most important what I also received:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
that He was buried,
that He was raised on the 3rd day according to the Scriptures.”
B. Forward. Focused on what must go ‘forward’ that’s the gospel.
Who are sharing Christ with right now?
What holds you back? Get past and get after it.
As Christians, we must be forward focused on sharing the gospel.
C. Faithful. Never wavering, always casting ’seed’ on fertile ground. Trusting God to bring the results.
You must be immovable, in 2019 to make a difference in God’s kingdom. God has won the victory. You are fighting from ‘Victory’.
3.Give your best to Kingdom work. 1 Cor. 15:58, Romans 8:5
The work of the Lord, is the answer. Work? "Not a good word," you say. "I work five or six days a week. When I get home I just want to rest." That's understandable.
Do you have any loafers at work? You know, people who only do the minimum, and only that if the boss is looking over their shoulder. And who takes up the slack? You and the other consci entious workers.
God's work is the same way.
Just a few of the ways we do His work, build His kingdom here on earth, is to teach our children about Jesus at home and at Sunday school. We serve as an usher or choir member on Sundays. We encourage those believers who are down. We make a meal for a family when one of the parents is sick.
A church is a caring body. But when loafers don't pull their part of the load, it falls on others to do.
My sister, my brother, this is a word for you: be "always abounding in the work of the Lord." Always. Over-and-above.
Knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord Some people hate washing dishes because more dirty dishes magically appear over night. Sweeping and vacuuming are the same way. Things never stay clean. Someone is always tracking dirt on your carpet. Is there no end? You get discouraged. It's only when you consider the alternatives that you get out your Hoover vacuum cleaner and have another go at it.
Your wife may not keep track of how often you change the spark plugs. Your husband has no idea of how often you have to dust.
But God keeps track of our faithfulness in His work. He sees us serving Him when no one else sees. And seeing us hanging in there brings joy to his heart.
Our Christian service is not done in vain for three reasons:
1. Christ's kingdom is built on your service, stone upon stone, act of kindness upon teaching the Junior boys Sunday school class, serving refreshments upon spending time with a grief-stricken believer.
2. Seeing your faithful service brings joy to God's heart.
3. God will reward you for your faithfulness, even when no one else sees. His ledger book gets fresh notations every time you serve Him. In a word, your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Yes, I get discouraged and so do you. But God keeps bringing us back to this verse to buck us up and help us to see the importance of faithful service. Don't give up. Your labor in Christ is not in vain.
Closing -
This year - God wants you best. Not your leftover efforts. God gave his best, in Jesus his Son!
Be immovable. Stand in the victory that is yours. And Give God your best. Leave the results to HIm.
