Title: Saints who strive for the Lord
Contents
Title: Saints who strive for the Lord's work
Bible: 1 Corinthians 16:10-14
Starting Point of the Word>>
This time, we would like to share a message with the title of “Saints who are busy in the work of the Lord.
In today's text, it is recorded that Paul is giving the last words of exhortation to the church in Corinth.
Paul closes his letter by introducing commendable co-workers and church workers.
At the same time, he also recorded a powerful message to the Corinthian church members.
If we look at verses 13-14 of the text,
“Awake, stand firm in the faith, be strong like men, do all your things out of love.”
If we analyze this verse, it is made up of five imperative verbs: ‘Keep awake,’ ‘Stand firm in the faith,’ ‘Act like a man’, ‘Be strong’, and ‘Do all things with love.’
However, all five verbs are in the present tense.
This is to emphasize the words that believers must continually practice.
The life of faith should not be done according to our own will, but according to the Word of God.
We must realize that being approved by God is more precious than being approved by people.
Paul introduced Timothy as a 'those who are diligent in the Lord's work' like himself.
What are we striving for right now?
I hope that all of our members who are with us today will become more diligent in God's work.
Go to Word>>
Then, what kind of saints must we become in order to be diligent in the Lord's work?
First, we must become believers who stand firm in the faith.
Example>>
Best known as the king of department stores, Wannamaker was born the son of a poor bricklayer.
Although his education in the second year of elementary school was all he had, he made great strides as a businessman and became the king of department stores.
Later, he served as post minister.
He bought a Bible with the money he had saved from working in a brick factory when he was ten years old, and kept close to God's Word throughout his life.
His mission as a church school teacher began at the age of 21 and continued for 65 years.
Even when I accepted the post of post minister, I accepted it as a condition of attending a church I serve on Sundays and taking on the teaching position.
While serving as minister, he traveled from Washington to Philadelphia on Sundays, serving as the head of the church school.
He said, "The ministerial job is a side job, and my main job is a church school teacher."
Because of his dedication, the church school he served has grown into the largest church school in the world.
Wannamaker met Jesus in the Bible, received grace, and was built on the faith.
He always confessed his faith, saying, 'I praise God for giving me the Bible.'
If we look at the words of verse 13, ‘
“Awake, stand firm in the faith, be strong like a man”
Go Paul says.
At the time Paul was active, the church did not have a perfect system.
As the church is in its infancy, it was weak and lacking in many ways.
What made them difficult was the idols and hedonistic values that were prevalent at the time.
The biggest concern for Paul was whether the Corinthians could keep their faith completely.
That's why Paul urges the church members to 'watch and stand firm in the faith'.
Even if the world is infested with idolatry and pleasure, we must live in victory over the world by wearing sanctification through Jesus Christ and keeping our faith.
This was a very appropriate request for the Corinthians in their immature stage.
In particular, the word ‘awakening’ means to keep yourself in humility by praying and hoping for the help of the Holy Spirit.
There is no other way for the saints to stay awake except to pray silently.
It is impossible for anyone to stand firm in the faith in a rebellious world without prayer. We must stand firm in our faith at any time, any place, in any situation.
At this time, I hope that our members will be awake, stand firm in the faith, and strive for the Lord's work.
Second, we must become saints with strong faith.
Let's look at verse 13 again.
“Awake, stand firm in the faith, be strong like a man”
Paul urges us to be awake and stand firm in our faith, and furthermore, he tells us to live with an active faith: “Be strong like a man.”
The word ‘manly’ here means not physical strength, but spiritual strength from God.
In other words, like a brave soldier, fight the evil of the world and overcome it with strong faith.
It is a message to put on the full armor, fully armed with the Gospel.
In order to fulfill our mission in a material civilization and a corrupt society, we must be thoroughly armed spiritually.
You must have spiritual power to fight the world and win.
When we face difficulties and difficulties, we are easily discouraged or give up.
But I am telling you not to give up.
Do not resent or go back to the past.
This is the reason why the Israelites who left Egypt could not enter the land of Canaan and died in the wilderness.
This is because when they faced adversity of the wilderness, the adversity of the Red Sea, the adversity of hunger, and adversity of thirst, they longed for the past life in Egypt and resented God rather than trusting and relying on God.
Therefore, our faith must be stronger than the adversity of this world.
Just like Paul's counsel, we must be able to stand on a stronger faith only with the help of God.
And I hope that you will become saints who put more effort into the work of the Lord by being strong like a man.
Third, we must become 'saints who walk with love' in doing God's work.
If we look at the words of verse 14,
“Do all your things with love.”
is saying
Here, the word ‘with love’ is written in the Greek word ‘en agape’, which means ‘sacrificial love’.
In a word, the love required of Christians is the sacrificial love that God gave his only begotten Son.
Therefore, we should do everything that is given to us with a heart of love for God.
Paul regarded this love as the final fruit.
If you do not do everything with love, it means nothing.
Since it is just a chirping sound, it must appear with love.
Love is a visible faith.
Please believe that God will never leave you as a loss even if it seems like a loss if you treat and act with a heart of love for God no matter where you meet anyone, at home, at work, at any time, and at work.
Example>>
When Livingston was on a mission to Central Africa, news broke.
After the news of Livingston was lost, the Stanley expedition found Missionary Livingston in a small town in Central Africa.
At the age of 60, he was already ill and debilitated.
Stanley persuaded him to return home, but Livingston remained there ever since.
The last journal Livingston wrote was March 19, 1873.
It was also Livingston's birthday.
It was recorded in his last diary:
“Today is my birthday. my Jesus! my king! my life! my everything! Starting today, I dedicate myself again. accept me God gave His only begotten Son, but I am giving you all of this ugly thing, so please use it. Amen"
On his tombstone it was written:
“This man needs no other words. He lived in response to the love of God and died in response.”
Livingston's life was a life that showed everyone the image of a man dedicated to the work of the Lord.
I hope that the lives of all our members during this time will be lives that respond to God's love.
At the end of the speech>>
We are living in a very difficult and difficult time right now.
But please realize that the time of God's blessing is near.
Please stand firm in the faith and put more effort into the work of the Lord.
Please do your best in the Lord's work with a strong attitude like a man.
Above all, I hope that you will do your work to the fullest through the love of God.
So, I pray in the name of the Lord that all the blessed saints who will be used by God to the end will be.