Sunday 5th May 1996 Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Horsham (Final Message at Horsham.)
"Therefore, my dear brothers, 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." 1 Cor 15:58 NIV Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. RSV
Always abounding.
Mackenzie falls. More than a trickle: some times more than others, but usually the waters come 'abounding' down!
And what a spectacular sight.
Niagra falls. Now there's water that is 'always abounding!'
This verse comes at the end of the magnificent chapter of the resurrection -Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians.
Paul opens the chapter by reminding his fellow Christians of the gospel: The gospel they have taken their stand on, and by which they - and we- are saved.
As of first importance, he passed on to them, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, and that he was raised to life on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, the 12, and to many others.
Christ died for our sins.
Because he died for them, we do not have to die for them.
Christ was buried, and then he was raised from the dead!!!
This means Death is dead!!! Christ has won a permanent victory over death -and he shares this victory with us!
Towards the end of the chapter he writes: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Thanks be to God: he gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
What does this mean?
It means that nothing this world can hurl at us: no disappointment, no pain, no embarrassment, no humiliation can ever crush us: we are destined to rise!
"Therefore, my dear brothers," Paul writes, "therefore 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."
In the face of death; in the face of everything that life can throw at us, we have eternal security!
We have a God who had given himself up for us all, in love... he has saved us, and promises to keep us always secure!
"Stand firm, then, let nothing move you."
In chapter 16 he writes, 'Stand firm in the faith.'
There are people that want to move us. There are evil spiritual powers, that can't stand us knowing the immense blessings of God's power and forgiveness. They can't stand us being filled with joy, and abounding in the work of the Lord.
What will they use to try to shake us?
-Ridicule, temptations, distractions, deceptions, strife.
Stand firm, says Paul. Stand firm, says the Lord your God.
And we can stand firm.
From what has happened here in recent months, some have been shaken. I have been shaken. Christine has been shaken. Others have been shaken.
Things happen, and hurt comes. How easy it is to focus on these things, and forget to stand firm and maintain our confidence in God.
The God of resurrection power.
The God who called the universe out of nothing
The God who gave himself up for us in the bitter injustice and evil of the cross
-yet the God who chose to use the cross, to deal all evil its deathblow.
And through His death we have life.
Stand firm, therefore, in God.
Stand firm in faith.
And abound.
Abound in His work.
What is His work?
Let us abound in the work of the Lord.
The work the Lord wants to do through you, is to take this congregation, and make it a community of grace and love. A community of God's Word and prayer. A community led by God's Holy Spirit. A community abounding in service to fellow Christians and non-Christians alike, and above all, seeking to see each person come to faith, and standing firm in faith, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
So let nothing move you from supreme confidence in Christ, and His power to save. Serve each other in love, as you abound in the work of the Lord.
"For you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."
This is God's promise to you. And God keeps His promises.
Now I commit you to the Word of God's grace, which can build you up, and give you an inheritance among all those who are holy through Christ. The Lord be with you. Amen.
Rev Wayne Logan, May 1996