06PM July 30 1 Corinthians 16 9 13_14 22
July 30, 2006—Evening Worship
Encouraging Words to Enable Your Spiritual Walk
Simple Truths to Sustain You through Trouble
1 Corinthians 16:9, 13-14, 22
Intro: I would be less than honest w/you – if I did not admit that there are times when I get down. It would be less than honest of me not to tell you that, at times, it seems as if we are fighting an up hill battle! Sometimes troubles & pains come our way in the Christian life! Sometimes it seems hard to keep on going! Sometimes it’s just difficult to feel “spiritual” while walking through adverse situations!
I know you are well aware of what I’m talking about tonight. You know the hardships & the difficult situations through which believers must often travel. & since we know that these are but temporary trials, we ought to be able to walk through them. But unless we rely on the power of God, we will be crushed under the weight of our problems.
& so, I’ve come tonight, prepared to preach to myself & to you – so that we all may hear encouraging words to enable our spiritual walk. What I want to share w/you tonight are the simple truths to sustain you through trouble.
We’re going to be dealing specifically w/vv. 9, 13 & 14 & 22 from 1 Corinthians 16. But just to get an idea about the context, let’s begin reading at v. 5, where Paul writes to the believers in Corinth…
1 Corinthians 16 5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 & it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter w/you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while w/you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great & effective door has opened to me, & there are many adversaries….13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done w/love….22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!
- Notice 1st of all, in v.9, that…
1. Satan tries to destroy God’s work. (v. 9) 9 For a great & effective door has opened to me, & there are many adversaries.
- Satan tries to destroy God’s work; he wants to disable & discredit God’s people; he longs to derail God’s plan! Why?…
A. B/c he has considered the possibilities. (v. 9a) For a great & effective door….
- When Paul used the word translated “great” he was saying, “There is a large, wide, spacious, long, abundant, intense, excellent, splendid blessing of opportunity to minister here.”
- Not only that but the word “effective” meant that this ministry opportunity was powerful & active.
- IOW Paul is saying that many people will come to faith in Christ if I am obedient & work for the glory of God.
- Satan tries to destroy God’s work b/c he has considered the possibilities that a great & effective door presents to an obedient child of God!
- Oh, that we might be those kind of Christians! Oh, that God would place before us a door that no man can shut! Oh, that God would give us the opportunity to serve Him & see people saved!
- I’m going to be praying for that very thing! Would you join me in that prayer?
- You see, Satan tries to destroy God’s work…
B. B/c he knows the certainties. (v. 9b) …has opened to me….
- There’s no guess work here. There’s no ambiguity. There’s no confusion.
- Paul knew that this ministry opportunity existed & so did Satan.
- Paul rejoiced in the privilege to lead people to Christ & Satan was certain that if Paul was obedient, God would save many people!
- Ladies & gentlemen, God has placed before us the opportunity to serve Him in Gastonia, NC. He has given us the precious gospel to share w/the lost of our town.
- It’s our privilege to go for His glory! & we can be certain that people will come to faith in Christ as we are obedient to tell His story!
- God didn’t place this church here to take us space!
- His plan is to use each one of us & if we can get our minds off our own situations long enough to realize that people are dying w/o Jesus all around us—then God will begin to work through us right here in Gaston County!
- & you can be certain of that!
- Paul was excited about the possibilities of ministry; he was enthusiastic about the certainties of the ministry God had given him.
- But he was also well aware of the fact that Satan tries to destroy God’s work…
C. Through his use of adversities. (v. 9c) …& there are many adversaries.
- Anywhere the true gospel is proclaimed there will be adversaries!
- Satan & his demons will try to disrupt & destroy the clear teaching of God’s word.
- He will raise up false teachers that teach false gospels & make false converts.
- He will raise up opposition to the truth & persecute those who proclaim it & profess it.
- Satan will do all he can to make sure that those who travel the gospel road have an unpleasant journey.
- But what Satan does not know is that he can never take away the joy of helping someone come to Christ.
- Yes there are many adversaries & many adversities along the pathway which Christ would have us walk.
- But following the path of obedience is more pleasant than following the path of least resistance!
- Don’t water down the message! Don’t water down the ministry! Don’t water down the messenger!
- Face the adversities w/the assurance that Jesus Christ Himself has gone before you & prepared your way!
- When you do that you prove—by your life—that…
2. The Saints’ devotion to God is victorious. (vv. 13-14) 13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done w/love.
- You see, as a child of God, you have victory…
A. Through your Prayers. (v. 13a) Watch….
- Paul told the Corinthians to be aware, to be alert, to be vigilant, to be awake, to pay attention.
- IOW look around & see what your adversary is up to. Don’t be caught off guard!
- You see, we are to report everything to our heavenly Father & gain His perspective.
- We don’t know what to do unless we find out from God!
- & we can do that through vigilant, fervent prayer!
- On August 26 we will begin 5 days of fervent prayer which will end on Wednesday night August 30.
- We need to focus our attention on God & find His direction & His will for this church.
- & we will do that through a concerted effort of every member pouring their heart out to God & listening for His reply!
- But as helpful as that may be & as wonderful as that can be—it should not be a substitute for regular times of prayer w/God!
- We need to report for duty every morning & get our orders for the day directly from the Master!
- Your prayers prove that your devotion to God brings victory in your life & you can also have victory…
B. Through His Promises. (v. 13b) …stand fast in the faith….
- Did you notice that Paul did not say, “Stand fast in your faith”? Paul did not say, “Stand fast in faith” but he said, “Stand fast in THE faith.”
- What does that mean? It means you are to stand firmly & confidently on the promises of God’s word.
- We sing the hymn many times, Standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let His praises ring, glory in the highest I will shout & sing, standing on the promises of God!
- THE faith that Paul talks about here is the whole body of truth; it’s the whole of the gospel message; it’s the complete teaching of God’s word that brings faith!
- You cannot trust your faith but you can rely completely on THE faith God supplies!
- You see, you are no match for the power of the enemy! But God has it covered!
- Don’t worry about the attack! Trust the Almighty!
- Don’t fret the persecution! Rely on the promises!
- Don’t sweat the details! Simply walk w/the Divine Son of God!
- God cannot lie & He has made very specific promises to His children! Trust them & you will have victory!
- You can also have victory…
C. Through His Power. (v. 13c) …be brave, be strong.
- That’s God’s word to you tonight too! Don’t be a coward! Don’t be weak! Stand up for Jesus!
- Those words are written in the imperative, which means they are a command; we must be brave & we must be strong.
- But you ask, “How can I do that?” & the answer is—you cannot!
- The words “be brave, be strong” are written in the original language in such a way that we are not the ones who are working up the bravery; we’re not working up the strength.
- No! That phrase is written to mean that someone else is causing us to be brave; someone else is causing us to be strong!
- & that someone else is none other than God in the Person of Jesus Christ working in us through His Holy Spirit!
- Be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might! We don’t have the strength, so God supplies it.
- It takes me back to when Jesus told Moses at the burning bush, “I AM that I AM.”
- It means Jesus is whatever you need Him to be—whenever you need Him to be it!
- You already have victory through His power.
- But not only that, you also have victory…
D. Through His Purpose. (v. 14) Let all that you do be done w/love.
- Notice w/me if you will that 2nd word in v. 14—the word “all.”
- Absolutely everything you do is to be done w/love. Not just to the saints, but to everyone!
- That old song says “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. No not just for some, but for everyone!”
- But the world’s kind of love is not the love that is written about here. NO! The word love in v. 14 is the God-like love.
- It’s the unconditional love. It’s the unexplainable love. It’s the perfect love of God!
- It’s the love of God that flows through us to others that we are to let shine & let show!
- It’s God’s purpose that His children display His character & the Bible says that God is love.
- Therefore, His children should be love & show love to everyone in every situation!
- By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another!
- Love covers a multitude of sin. Love displays the character of Christ in us to others!
- So whatever you do—do it w/love b/c that’s His purpose—to reveal Himself to others through you!
- Satan tries to destroy God’s work, but the saints’ devotion to God is victorious!
- So Paul writes that…
3. A Simple line divides the world. (v. 22) 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!
- There really are only 2 kinds of people in this world; those who know Jesus & those who don’t.
- So that simple line divides the world…
A. Between those who are the Faithless. (v. 22a) If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.
- It’s obvious that Paul says anyone who does not love Jesus is accursed.
- But who exactly is he speaking of? Some say it’s the rebellious non-believer, others say it’s the Jews, still others say Paul was writing about the Gnostics of his day.
- But it seems best to understand this verse to mean anyone who claims to be a believer but does not live according to faith – let him be accursed!
- Paul is saying that if you don’t live like a Christian, you are not a Christian & therefore you will suffer the same condemnation as the pagans.
- Now it is true that believers can fall into sin & they may even stay there awhile. But they cannot remain in a sinful lifestyle forever!
- True believers who live in a sinful lifestyle must either repent or God will take them out of this world b/c they are a hypocritical, God-dishonoring influence!
- So Paul targets & speaks of the false teachers that lead others astray. He talks about those who willingly follow after this “new teaching.”
- These are the ones who would ask, “Where is the evidence of His coming?”
- They are both cold in faith & bold in their opposition of the truth.
- They are deceived, either by self or by others into thinking they have eternal life even while they deny the power of God & the deity of Jesus!
- & Paul is saying, “Let those be accursed!” The Aramaic word is “Anathema!” & it means to bind under a great curse!
- But then that leaves those on the other side of that simple line which divides the world. That line divides between the faithless &…
B. Between those who are the Faithful. (v. 22b) O Lord, come!
- Come to receive Your own! Come to take Your children home! Come to end evil!
- Come to destroy Satan’s hold! Come to dethrone him! Come to glorify Yourself!
- The Aramaic word is “Maranatha!” & it means our Lord cometh or has come.
- It was a common saying among the early church members expressing their living hope that Jesus Christ will return.
- Jesus told His disciples in John 14:1-3, “Let not your hearts be troubled….”
- & every true Christian since has longed for the day when Jesus comes again to take His children home!
- Every true Christian longs for the day they can see their Savior face to face!
- As the old song says, “What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see! When I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace! When He takes me by the hand, & leads me through the Promised Land! What a day, glorious day, that will be!”
- The faithful long for His coming but the faithless don’t believe He will come!
- & that simple, thin, & yet all important line divides the world into the faithful & the faithless.
Conclusion: Satan tries to destroy God’s work but the saints’ devotion to God is victorious through the power God supplies. & yet, even in the year 2006, there remains a line that divides the world. On one side of that line are the faithful, God loving, Spirit filled believers. On the other side of that line are the faithless, God hating rebels bound for Hell.
If you are on God’s side tonight, He called you for His purpose to spread the gospel & to live a victorious Christian life for the world to see. How are you doing? How’s that going for you? How would you rate your efforts tonight? But maybe a more important question would be, “How does God rate my efforts? Is He pleased w/my life?”
If you are on the opposite side of that line, then you are in full opposition to God. According to the Bible, unless you repent, you will spend eternity in Hell. Is that your goal? Is that what you really want? Is that where you want to spend all eternity—in torment & torture; in agony & pain; in total, absolute, irrevocable separation from God?
Invitation: God is calling to everyone in the sound of my voice tonight. Make no mistake about it—God is calling to you. What do you sense Him saying? Is He calling you to repentance & faith? Is He calling you walk the victorious Christian life through His power?
Ladies & gentlemen, wherever you are & whatever you’ve done, God can give you victory! But you will never receive unless you come to Him in faith.
Hymns Victory in Jesus / He Alone Is Worthy 426 / 427