The Work of the Lord

Peter G. Kuskie, Australia

 

1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 

1.           Therefore

 

h When you see a therefore, check the context to see what it is therefore

hVictory is not an end in itself

hGod has given it for a purpose

 

2.           My beloved brethren

 

hWe are loved

hGod will never put you down

hSelf image not from friends or even family but from God

hNot a distant love but understanding

hJesus our brother knows what we are going through 

 

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

(God uses people to encourage us – if you love someone let them know)

 

3.           Be steadfast, unmovable

 

       a. God won’t ask more then you have got

       hHis callings are His enablings

       hMay take step of faith but you can

       hThink you can think u can’t either way you will be right

       hAffirmation who you are in Christ.  His promises are yes and amen

       h Success comes in cans 

 

Phil 4:13  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

 

b. Steadfast, unmovable = settled

hLack of confidence causes unsettling

hMust know who we are & the victory that is ours in Christ

h “Know” mentioned over 700 times 

 

2 Tim 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

 

1 Jn 5:13, 15, 18 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ¹⁴This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. ¹⁸We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.

 

Know your facts = confidence

Know your inheritance = confidence

 

That will make you unmovable when confronted by the world, flesh or devil

Continuous victory in Christ

 

4.           Always

 

Be instant 2 Tim 4:2  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction

 

Opportunities come to those who are looking for them

 

5.           Abounding in the work of the Lord

 

What is the “work of the Lord?”

 

That which God has called you to

 

a.           Family

b.           Secular life (job, hobbies etc)

       Develop you & provide opportunities for witness

c.            Support local church

       Tithes

       Behind pastors vision

       Involvement

 

1.           Only get out what you put in

       h100% commitment needed

       hAbound = excel with enough to spare

       hRunners, businessmen – how much more the Christian life

       hDecision & daily commitment  Lk 14:25 – 33

 

Lk 14:28 – 33 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? ²⁹For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, ³⁰saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³²If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

 

2.           Don’t say you never get a chance

       hOpportunities limitless – chairs communion, sweeping

       hFaithful in small things Lk 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

       hInvolves time, thought, energy

 

3.           You are a part of the body with a vital contribution

       hDo what comes naturally ie organize, preach, encourage, witness

       hAsk God for ideas

 

4.           Harvest is plentiful

 

^{John 4:35}Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest

 

“To be successful in your ministry you need only tap into God’s thoughts concerning your role in His work”

 

5.           For as much as you know your labor is not in vain in the Lord

 

a.      labour = toil, weariness

                 hNot always easy

                 h10% inspiration 90% persperation

                 hNot based on feelings

                 hBiblical labourers

                

      1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God:

 

Ps 101:6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me

 

1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful

 

^{Matt 25:21}His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord

 

b.     Worth it

 

                 hVictory in this life

                 hRewards in this & next

Rev 22:12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done

                                         Rev 22:12, matt 6:4, Isa 62:11, Rom 2:10

                 hMust KNOW it

 

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