Steadfast And Unmovable

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.