It is Not in Vain

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 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,

2 Chronicles 15:7

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,

2 Chronicles 15:7

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

Isaiah 6:8

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,

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

2 Chronicles 15:7

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.

Amen.

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,

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.

Amen.