The Lord Is My Refuge

POWER FOR THE BROTHERS

7/26/09 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

1. God’s People are to Be Powerful

a. Called the Army of God

b. Victorious Over comers

c. More than Conquerors

2. First two vs. we memorized

a. Philip. 4:13 Becoming Can Do Christians

b. Col. 2:6-7 Growing Up In Christ

c. 1 Cor. 15:58 Power for the Brothers

3. Tonight - look at 8 vs. preceding

a. 3 Life Changing Truths v.50-57

1. Can’t Be altered or eliminated

b. 4 life Empowering Responses v. 58

1. Can be ignored but can’t be fabricated

1. 3 LIFE CHANGING TRUTHS V. 50-57

A. Transience of the Flesh Vs. 50-51

lasting for only a short time and quickly coming to an end, disappearing, or changing

1. Impossible Stated vs. 50

a. cannot – not no how! no way

b. inherit – be included in the Family Estate

c. like always produces like & flesh is corrupt!

d. that which always seems to say yes to sin

e. the K. of God – that realm of sinlessness

2. Unbelievable Promised vs. 51

a. Behold – stop; drop everything; you are not going to believe this; Wow – take a look!!

b. show – lego – lay out; systematic discourse

one thing building on another

c. a mystery -In the NT it denotes, not the mysterious … that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by Divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit. In the ordinary sense a "mystery" implies knowledge withheld; its Scriptual significance is truth revealed. Vine’s Expo. Dictionary of OT & NT Words.

d. We shall not all sleep- not everyone -going to die

i. If Corruptible can’t inherit – some not inherit?

ii. Unthinkable statement – who? why?

e. but we shall all be changed -made something else

i. universal change experienced by all Christians

B. Imminence of the Rapture

2 words identical in sound Imminence – about to happen, or threatening to happen

eminence - a position or rank of distinction or superiority

1. Untimeable

a. moment – undividable time; atomos>atom

b. twinkling – sudden jerk; catch out of corner eye

c. last trump – 1st prepare; 2nd break & last March!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

2. Unstoppable – 3 shalls; not might or maybe

a. verb meaning determined or preordained

C. Excellence of the Reward

1. Necessity v. 53

a. must – necessary and binding- twice -

i. corruptible must put on incorruption

ii. mortal must put on immortality

2. Notice v. 54

a. That which man fears most – death

b. That which man would pay all to conquer

c. Death no longer holds fear or dread – doorway

d. victory – nikos=triumph, conquest

3. Noise v. 55

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4. News v. 56-57

a. Gift

i. not earned or deserved

b. Path

i. only one way to conquer death & grave

ii. Only Jesus’ grave is empty- He Is Alive!

c. Person

i. stresses our relationship – we belong to him

ii. Lord Jesus Christ

2. 4 LIFE EMPOWERING RESPONSES 58

A. Command – Be Ye

1. become & keep on becoming

B. Settled – steadfast;

1. Let the doubters howl and assail

2. Look up he is coming

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

C. Steady unmovable

D. Shouting always abounding

E. Sure know that your labor is not in vain