Well, we can turn back to our reading in 1 Corinthians 15.
!
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15 is such a wonderful chapter as a whole.
I remember when, before James McKeever left the congregation here,
he went through the whole of this chapter just looking at the wonder of the resurrection
and all that it means, and such a powerful passage.
And it really does give us a sense of focus on what we are to look at and keep our eyes fixed upon.
We can look back over the summer months or even just the last few weeks,
and we can see we have much to give thanks for.
When you think of things that have been going on in the congregation and in other parts of the church,
there's much to give thanks for.
We think of the holiday club.
It was such a time of great blessing, seeing so many young people coming along there,
sharing the good news of Jesus with them and seeing them learning from the Word of God.
Of course, then we had the induction just a couple of weeks ago in Gravar.
It's a time of great rejoicing.
And again, I mention it again just because it just stays with you.
The power of the singing on that evening was just something to behold.
If you are present, it is something that will remain with you, I'm sure, for a very long time,
just that sense of power in praising God.
Then, of course, last weekend, we have much to give thanks for looking back on a communion weekend,
being under God's Word and having a time of fellowship together
and remembering the Lord's death, having our eyes focused, our hearts focused on what He has done for us.
We had a great time yesterday, the church day out, where many came along to it.
And then this morning, again, just seeing so many young people in the church so full this morning,
there's so much to be thankful for.
We have much to rejoice and give thanks to God for.
But as with anything, when we have these good experiences, these high experiences,
when we enjoy the Lord's blessing in particular ways, we have to carry on as well.
We have to go on.
It's not all about these high points.
So often it's about the day-to-day things.
And maybe we look ahead.
We maybe look ahead with a sense of where do we go now?
What do we do?
How do we carry on?
And that's the kind of question I want us to think about this evening.
How do we go on?
How do we keep going as we seek the Lord's blessing upon us?
Great as the high points of encouragement are.
We don't rely on these things, on these occasions,
to be where we find our blessing and encouragement at all times.
But instead, we are to remember that we are always to rely on the Lord, on his word,
because that is where we find our daily encouragement.
When we daily come to him, seeking his face, seeking his presence, seeking his blessing.
So this chapter that we have before us this evening, chapter 15,
it's one of those where we are reminded that those who come to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ,
have this great hope.
And it's this hope, really, that drives us on, that keeps us going.
And that hope is that there is life in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Life for all who believe, because he is risen.
And we have these great words in verse 56,
the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
The pain that sin brings, that is the sting of death.
But then we see these powerful words,
but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That there is encouragement there for us,
whether it's for ourselves to be built up in the faith,
or for our mission to reach out to those around us
with this gospel that is life, that is hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.
And so we are to keep our focus on him.
Our two readings this evening, the first and second Chronicles,
and then here in Corinthians,
they both have, you could say, something in common.
They are separated by probably nearly a thousand years in terms of a period of time.
They are separated by a great number of years,
and a lot of takes place in between the two occasions that we are looking at here.
But you see that they have something in common.
When you read in Chronicles there,
we are reading about Asa and his reign.
It was a time of great struggle for the people.
You see that in the verses that we read there,
how there was many who were turning away from God,
who were rejecting God.
And the same could be true in the days of the church in Corinth.
A difficult time, a place that was corrupt in so many different ways,
idols all around them,
people turning away and rejecting God,
God's people discouraged,
God being neglected and rejected by many.
You could say, well, that's what they have in common,
that there's so much to be fearful about,
so much to be concerned about.
But that's not what I want to think about what they have in common.
I want us to stand and look on something very positive
that they both have in common.
In 2 Chronicles 15, verse 7,
as Asa has spoken to,
it says here,
But you take courage.
Do not let your hands be weak,
for your work shall be rewarded.
Asa is being told that as you are faithful to God,
as you seek Him, as it says in that passage,
you will find Him.
He will be with you.
And he is being told,
Do not let your hands be weak,
for your work shall be rewarded.
And then you look at 1 Corinthians 15,
and this verse that we're going to focus on,
verse 58,
Therefore, my beloved brothers,
be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
So there's a sense of, again,
take courage,
don't be weak,
your work shall be rewarded.
It has the same theme in common in Chronicles,
as it does in Corinthians.
And there's great encouragement there for us as well.
God's people are being told to be strong,
to be willing,
to be faithful,
and that the work of the Lord will be blessed as we do so.
So there's three things in this verse,
verse 58.
I just wanted to take out of this verse this evening.
And the first is that sense of standing strong,
be steadfast, immovable,
standing strong.
The second is giving ourselves,
always abounding in the work of the Lord.
And then the third thing is going on in faith,
keeping the faith,
knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
So the first thing we see here is standing strong.
You see there at the beginning of the verse,
verse 58,
therefore.
So it's in light of what has come before.
Therefore,
in light of the mystery and the victory that we have in Jesus Christ,
in light of the power of the resurrection,
the hope of the resurrection,
in light of everything that he has said
in this wonderful passage,
therefore,
my beloved brothers,
be steadfast,
immovable,
stand strong.
Where does our strength come from?
We so often look at our bodies
and wonder about our strength
or our weakness at times.
In a physical way,
we look at our bodies in that sense,
whether we're strong
or whether we're weak.
Our bodies need nourishment.
Our bodies need sustenance
in order that we can grow on.
Otherwise,
we will grow weak.
We will grow weary.
But that's not the strength
that we are looking at here.
But the same is true
when it comes to our spiritual strength,
our spiritual nourishment.
It's not from self
that that comes from either.
It is from the Lord.
It is the Lord who gives strength.
It is the Lord who gives us
that spirit to go on,
to be steadfast,
immovable.
The psalmist in Psalm 73 says,
my flesh and heart
doth faint and fail.
He's recognizing there
his own physical weakness.
My flesh, my heart
doth faint and fail.
But what does he say?
But my God fails me never.
There's that sense
that it is God
who gives us strength.
And so,
we are dependent on God
and receiving from God.
Even looking back
to last Lord's Day
as we were gathered
around the Lord's Supper,
all who sat at the Lord's Table
is for our strengthening.
That's the purpose in it.
The Shorter Catechism
makes that clear
as we think of
the Lord's Supper,
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
By faith,
we are made partakers
of his body and blood
with all his benefits
to their spiritual nourishment
and growth in grace.
Spiritual nourishment
and growth in grace.
It's about being made strong,
being strengthened
in the Lord.
And the Psalms,
they so often speak
of that sense.
Psalm 46,
we know it well,
perhaps God is our refuge
and our strength.
There is that sense
of dependence.
Something that's repeated
again and again
throughout Scripture.
How can we be
steadfast and immovable?
It is by looking
to and trusting
in God.
1 Corinthians 15, 58,
Be steadfast, immovable.
2 Chronicles 15, verse 7,
Take courage.
They have that same
sense of being strong,
just like Joshua hears,
Be strong and courageous,
for I am with you.
There is that sense
of God
being with us.
Earlier in 2 Chronicles,
in chapter 7,
there are these
well-known words
in verse 14 and 15,
If my people
who are called
by my name
humble themselves
and pray
and seek my face
and turn from
their wicked ways,
then I will hear
from heaven
and will forgive
their sin
and heal
their lands.
There is that hope
that as we turn
to God
that we can be
strong in Him.
So the call
is there
to return
to the Lord
and to His strength.
Seek the Lord
as we were
thinking about
this morning.
As we come back
to Him,
we look to Him.
And so we see here
that there is
great encouragement
for us
to give thanks
to God
to go on
in His strength.
Remembering
we have
this hope
in Christ,
this great hope.
Constantly
as we hear
the Word of God,
as we just reflect back
on all that we heard
last week,
whether it was from
Thomas
or David Strain,
the encouragement
we heard
in the preaching here
or from Ian Thompson
as well,
there was so much
to remind us
of how we are
a precious people,
a redeemed people.
We are loved
by God.
We are His sons
and daughters
through faith,
through all
of these things.
How do we go on?
Spiritual
nourishment,
steadfast,
immovable.
What a hope
there is
through the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What a hope
we have
to look forward to
because
He is risen.
There is a hope
that enables us
to go on.
The word
steadfast there,
it literally means
rooted
and grounded.
Strength
is rooted
and grounded.
It is
immovable.
We see around us
when the winds
come that
those trees
and the castle
grounds
that are weak roots,
the wind
will blow them over.
But here
we are being told
that when we are
in the Lord
we have that
steadfast,
immovable,
rooted and
grounded
in Him.
We have a strength
that the Word
of God
promises.
Immovable
has behind
that sense
of being stubborn.
And we often
think of being
stubborn as being
something negative.
But it's very much
a positive here.
Therefore,
my beloved brothers,
be steadfast,
immovable.
There are times
when stubbornness
is appropriate
when it comes
to the things
of God.
To be steadfast,
immovable in them.
Not to be shaken
by other
false teachings
that we hear.
Not to be shaken
by people
who mock our faith
or ridicule
or anything like that.
But to see
death,
sting,
sin
is dealt with.
There is victory
in Christ.
Therefore,
we can be
steadfast
and immovable.
So we seek
that strength
of God.
The second thing
we see here
is how do we go on?
We go on
by giving
ourselves.
Always
abounding
in the work
of the Lord.
Again,
just as we reflected
this morning,
there's always
behind all of these
things.
all that we do
for the Lord.
There is behind it
always that sense
of God is sovereign
in all things.
Psalm 105
that we were looking
at this morning.
The bulk of it
is made up
of reminding us
of just how God
is in control
of all things.
And yet there are
imperatives for us
in that psalm.
Things that we are
to do,
that we are to seek
the Lord,
praise the Lord.
All of these things
that we were thinking
about this morning.
And the same
is true for us
here in this passage
as well.
God is sovereign.
We see that.
We have no power
over death ourselves.
We have no power
over the grave.
It is all
through Christ.
There is victory
through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
But because of that,
there are to be
consequences
for ourselves.
There are things
that we are to be
confident in
and to also
go on doing.
Always abounding
in the work
of the Lord.
We are to be
a people of faith
and to live
our lives out
by faith
in the Lord.
Everything that we
do for the Lord
has a sense
of activity
behind it.
Prayer
is active.
It may not
seem to be active
in the sense
of moving around
or anything like that.
You are just
maybe sitting
in the quietness
of your own home
by yourself.
Your eyes
closed,
your head
bowed,
praying to God.
There doesn't
seem to be
much activity
there,
but it is
active.
It is abounding
in the work
of the Lord
because there is
a labor
in that.
Our worship
is active.
It is active
in coming.
It is active
in hearing.
It is active
in receiving.
It is active
in going
and doing
as we have
heard.
There is
activity
in that.
Our service,
all that we
seek to do
for the Lord,
it has activity
behind it
as well.
So there is
this active
nature
to our faith
and we are
always to be
abounding
in the work
of the Lord.
There is a phrase
that people
sometimes use.
God doesn't
want your
capability.
He only
wants your
availability.
If you'll
give him
your availability,
he'll provide
the capability.
We are so
often afraid
of making
ourselves
available
because we
don't feel
capable.
But what that
person is saying
is if you
make yourself
available,
he'll make
you capable.
And it's
so true.
It is so
true in so
many of the
people that
God uses in
so many
different ways.
A sense
of fear,
a sense
of trepidation,
a sense
of what do
I have
to offer.
And yet
when we
make ourselves
available,
he can
use us.
So are
you
available?
always
abounding
in the
work of
the
Lord.
It's a
command.
You see
that with
all of
these things,
it actually
commands that
little word
in the
beginning of
the verse,
therefore my
beloved
brothers,
be,
be
steadfast,
immovable,
be always
abounding
in the
work of
the
Lord.
Be.
Just like
Isaiah
chapter 6
verse 8,
I heard
the voice
of the
Lord
saying,
whom
shall I
send
and who
will go
for us?
Then I
said,
here am
I,
send me.
That
sense of
abounding
in the
work of
the
Lord.
We are
encouraged
to go
on in
his
strength,
we are
encouraged
to make
ourselves
available.
because as
we look
to this
passage,
remember it's
in light
of the
therefore at
the beginning
of the
verse,
it is in
light of
what Christ
has done
for us.
In that
he has
given us
the victory
over sin,
over death,
because he
gave himself,
he gave
his life.
So there
is this
command,
can you
ever do
too much
for the
Lord?
The word
here,
abounding,
it's about
a fullness,
overflowing,
exceeding,
going beyond.
It's doing
for the
Lord the
things that
we are
uncomfortable
doing,
because the
only reason
that we
would do
it is
for him
and for
his
glory,
because he
has lavished
grace on
us.
We seek
to do
for him.
We seek
to abound
in his
work,
whatever
we are
doing.
Whatever you're
doing,
you are doing
it as to
the Lord.
The littlest
of things,
your deceit is
abounding in
the work
of the
Lord.
the little
acts of
service,
the little
acts of
kindness,
the volunteering
in different
things,
all of
these things,
they are
all abounding
in the
work of
the Lord.
It's
impossible to
go too
far for
Jesus,
to do
too much
for Jesus,
because we
are doing
it always
for his
glory.
so we
are to
give
ourselves
and to
go in
him,
and we
are to
go with
that
knowledge
that he
is with
us.
There's a
story told
about a
climber
in the
Alps,
in the
mountain
ranges of
the
Alps.
There was
a man
who had
a disability
and he
wasn't,
or he
felt unable
to climb
the mountains
there.
But he
loved the
mountains.
He'd
grown up
on the
foot of
the mountains.
He'd
seen
others
going up
to climb
and he
knew so
much about
what it
was to
climb these
mountains,
but he
still felt
he couldn't
go himself.
But he
used to
delight in
telling others
where they
were going,
all that they
had to look
forward to,
and to give
them a
word of
encouragement.
And yet he'd
never experienced
them himself.
Until this
day,
there was a
famous guide
passing by
who had
heard of
this man,
and heard
of his
disability,
and heard
of his
delight and
joy in
the mountains,
even though
he'd never
experienced
them.
And he
said,
how would
you like
to climb
the mountain
yourself?
And the
man's face
lit up,
but he
said,
but I
can't,
I'm not
able.
But the
man encouraged
him,
let's try,
let's go.
And the
man who
was disabled
followed.
And although
he was
slow,
although it
took time,
because he
had this
experienced
man with
him,
this
experienced
climber
with him,
they
eventually
reached
the summit.
That
man had
helped him
reach a
place he
never thought
he could
get.
And as a
reminder to
ourselves,
when you
are abounding
in the
work of
the Lord,
we feel
so unequipped,
we feel
so unready
for it.
But when
we give
it out
all,
he is
able to
do the
rest.
Always
abounding
in the
work of
the Lord.
We are
to make
ourselves
available.
That is
how we
are to
go on.
The
third and
final thing
we see
here is
we are
to be
a
people
who are
keeping
faith.
Keeping
faith.
Knowing
that in
the Lord
your
labor
is not
in vain.
We are
to go
on doing
in
faith.
Believing
in all
the promises
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
When we
are going
on in
our own
strength,
we can
struggle
in so
many
different
ways.
We can
struggle.
We feel
we are
not
seeing
anything
happening.
But when
we go
on in
the
strength
of the
Lord,
we realize
maybe we
won't see
anything
happening.
But we
are reminded
your
labor is
not
in vain.
Nothing
you do
for the
Lord
is in
vain.
There are
many things
that we
do in
life that
are vain.
When you
look at
passages like
Ecclesiastes,
you see
vanity,
all is
vanity.
When there
are so
many things
that we
are doing
in this
world,
it's just
in vain,
it's without
purpose,
it's without
any goal,
without anything
that's going
to be of
any benefit
at the
end of
it.
But when
we are
abounding
in the
work of
the
Lord,
we know
that in
the
Lord,
your
labor,
it's
not
in
vain.
It
is not
in
vain.
Similar
to what
it says
in 2
Chronicles
15,
verse
7,
for your
work
shall
be
rewarded.
!
There is
that hope
that the
Lord will
bless.
And again
we see it
in light
of what
Christ
has done.
Think of
the death
of Christ,
was that
in vain?
Of course
it wasn't.
When you
look at
verses 56
and 57
here,
the sting
of death
is sin
and the
power
of sin
is the
law.
But
thanks be
to God
who gives
us a
victory
through
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ.
He was
victorious.
He was
victorious
in his
death,
in his
resurrection.
He defeated
sin
and death
and all
of the
consequences
of it.
His
death
was not
in vain
because
he is
risen
and he
will come
again.
So we
are to
see that
in light
of everything
that we
do.
It is
not in
vain for
the Lord
because he
is the
one who
is able
to bless
it.
The empty
tomb is
that reminder
to us
that we
have a
risen
saviour
who is
ascended
on high,
who is
sitting at
the right
hand of
God the
Father,
who will
come
again.
And so
her labour
is not
in vain.
We wait
on him,
we pray
to him,
we seek
his will,
and all
of these
things.
We become
impatient
at times.
We become
discouraged.
But we
come back
and look
on our
saviour.
We come
back and
fix our
eyes on
Jesus.
And then
we realise
all that
we do
in the
Lord
is not
in vain.
We are
not doing
it for
self.
We are
not doing
it for
our glory,
but his.
And when
we do,
he will
reward.
It will
not be
in vain.
So if
we walk
with him,
if we
work with
him,
if we
wait on
him,
and all
of these
things,
we can
see that
he will
bless.
And what
do we look
for at the
end of
the day?
Just to
be a
people who
are faithful
to him.
Enjoying
his blessings
in the
times of
great
privilege
as being
gathered
round the
Lord's
supper,
times of
induction,
times of
great
gatherings,
but being
faithful in
the little
things too.
Being
faithful in
our prayers,
being faithful
in the
reading of
the word,
being faithful
in our
service to
him,
being faithful
in encouraging
one another,
being faithful
in encouraging
those around
us,
being faithful
in all
things.
knowing that
our labor
is not
in vain.
You know,
perhaps over
this last
few weeks,
you handed
out maybe
an invitation
to the
church service
today.
Maybe you
handed out
one of
these books
to someone.
Maybe they
threw it
back at you
and said,
I don't
want it.
Maybe it's
been tossed
into the
corner,
cupboard
somewhere,
and you
think to
yourself,
they didn't
come,
they didn't
read it.
What was
the point?
it was
just in
vain.
While we
are seeing
here,
nothing that
we do for
the Lord
is in
vain.
We might
not see
an outcome
from it,
but we
can trust
and pray
that God
would bless
everything
that we
do,
every little
act that
is done
for him,
done as
a people,
steadfast,
immovable,
trusting
in him,
the one
who is
risen,
abounding
in the
work of
the Lord,
doing all
for his
glory,
knowing that
in all
things,
it is
not in
vain,
in all
things,
he is
able to
reward.
And so
may we
go on
today,
tomorrow,
in all
the days
ahead of
us,
encouraged,
looking
unto
Jesus,
being
steadfast,
unimmovable
in all
of these
things,
always
abounding
in the
work of
the Lord,
knowing
that in
the Lord
your
labor
is not
in vain.
May he
bless it
to his
glory.
Let us
pray.
Lord,
our
gracious
God,
we do
thank you
for the
hope that
is found
in these
passages
before us,
the hope
of the
resurrection,
the wonder
of it,
the mystery
of it,
and yet
the victory
that we
are told
about,
that is
ours through
Christ
Jesus,
our Lord,
that he
came,
he gave,
he gave
to the
uttermost,
he gave
his life,
he died
on the
cross,
and yet
on the
third day
he rose.
He rose
victorious,
victory
over death
and sin,
and therefore
we have
that hope
that we
can be
steadfast
and
immovable,
we have
that confidence
in him
and may
our confidence
only increase,
may we be
nourished and
strengthened
through his
word,
may we be
abounding
in his
work,
and may
we know
that nothing
for him
is in vain,
we seek
your blessing,
we seek
your grace,
we seek
your guidance
over all
of these
things as
we ask
it with
the forgiveness
of our
sin,
in Jesus'
name,
Amen.
We're
going to
conclude
by singing
to God's
praise in
the same
psalm that
we had
previously,
Psalm 111,
the Scottish
Psalter
version.
We're
going to
sing these
last
verses,
6 through
to 10.
Psalm 111,
page 391,
verse 10,
to God's
praise,
we stand
to sing.
Amen.
may may
may
And if ye so,
And ye words are truth and right,
All is calm and search true,
And thou wilt truth and the brightness
Leve, warm, og, and, and,
And ye, send me the light,
And thou wilt truth and the light,
He did come and holy his name,
And reverend is always.
Words of beginning is gone dear,
To understanding me,
The Lord is calm and through,
Let me send you all day.
After the benediction,
I'll go to the door to my left.
We'll close the benediction.
Now may grace, mercy, and peace
From God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Rest upon and abide with you all
Now and forevermore.
Amen.