Title Don't Shake
don't shake
2005-06-26
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always devoted to the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
I. Text Commentary
Among the Corinthian church members, there were people who did not believe in our bodily wealth. So Paul apologetics for the doctrine of the resurrection, showing how our lives today are connected to this glorious doctrine of the resurrection. Since we will receive the body of a glorious resurrection, we are living while looking forward to that glorious time, so we have to work hard and live this day for the Lord.
II. Resurrection Faith
: Resurrection faith can be divided into universal resurrection faith and personal resurrection faith.
A. The Universal Resurrection, the Ultimate Resurrection of Our Bodies
B. Personal and Present Resurrection
To experience being alive with the Lord in the present every day. It presupposes the life of dying on the cross every day. In a spiritual sense, the cross was given by God in a wise providence to help us in our sanctification. However, not all trials and tribulations that come to us automatically become our cross. The pain and suffering we do not bear cannot become the cross that makes us mature. It is not just the experience of suffering there, but the attitude of bearing it with faith. The attitude of bearing one's cross with faith puts us into the suffering of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. The experience of self-death of a believer who bears his own cross is connected to the experience of Jesus Christ's death on the cross, which in turn leads to the experience of personal resurrection of the soul. The present experience of Christ's death on the cross brings about the present death of sin that dwells within us. Therefore, we must take up our cross daily and become people who die daily. To live without the cross is to live without faith in the resurrection. How can you live like that and see God in the last days?
III. living by faith
A. Robustness
How can a person who wears the Lord's great love and does not shed tears while looking at his own beast-like image that does not resemble the Lord at all, can be a believer? How can a person be a believer who loses the place of his unique mission and does not suffer at all? It is shaken because there is no life of grace. How can you live such a short life as a spectator watching the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? If you do not pour out grace into the place of your mission, you will not know that you will die with the Lord, nor will you know that you will live with the Lord. It's not a strong giant tree, it's just a soft sapling, so is it easily swayed by a small wind? Even a weak seedling can hold on to the Lord. Hold on to the Lord and live steadfastly.
B. Devoted to the Lord's work
When we focus on the Lord's work, God's great work is revealed. One completely dead ministry shows the great work of God better than the 10,000 people who almost want to die. Jesus Christ Himself showed us what it is like to walk the path of mission. Do you labor for the Lord? Are you pouring yourself out into the work?
IV. effort not in vain
Fear the life of a bystander. The day will come when we will have to answer to God about the life we are living now. Therefore, as long as we live, we must be diligent in the work of the Lord. What made us alive is to serve the Lord, and to serve the Lord without being shaken. Looking forward to the glorious day of resurrection, I pray that the saints who struggle and live for the Lord...