WCF Motto Text 2024

1 Corinthians 15:58

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

I’ve told this story before when preaching but it deser es to be told again. It is from Killing Fields, Living Fields by Don Cormack which tells the story of the persecution of Christians during the murderous Pol Pot regime in the 1970’s.

“On April 17 1975 the city of Phnom Penh fell to the forces of the Khmer Rouge. Soon the brutality of the new administration became apparent….A refugee report from a village in Siem Riep province tells of the death of Haim, a Christian teacher, and his family...Haim knew that the youthful black-clad Khmer Rouge soldiers now heading across the field were coming this time for him…Haim was determined that when his turn came, he would die with dignity and without complaint….Haim's entire family was rounded up that afternoon. They were 'the old dandruff!', 'bad blood!', 'enemies of the glorious revolution!', 'CIA agents!'. They were Christians.

The family spent a sleepless night comforting one another and praying for each other as they lay bound together in the dewy grass beneath a stand of friendly trees. Next morning the teenage soldiers returned and led them from their Gethsemane to their place of execution, to the nearby viel somlap, 'the killing fields'….consenting to Haim's request for a moment to prepare themselves for death, father, mother, and children, hands linked, knelt together around the gaping pit. With loud cries to God, Haim began exhorting both the Khmer Rouge and all those looking on from afar to repent and believe the gospel.  Then, in panic, one of Haim's young sons leapt to his feet, bolted into the surrounding scrub and disappeared. Haim jumped up and with amazing coolness and authority prevailed upon the Khmer Rouge not to pursue the lad, but to allow him to go and call the boy back. The knots of onlookers, peering around trees, the Khmer Rouge, and the stunned family still kneeling at the graveside, looked on in awe as Haim began calling his son, pleading with him to return and die together with his family.

'What comparison, my son,' he called out, 'stealing a few more days of life in that wilderness, a fugitive, wretched and alone, to joining your family here momentarily around this grave but soon around the throne of God, free forever in Paradise?' After a few tense minutes the bushes parted, and the lad, weeping, walked slowly back to his place with the kneeling family. 'Now we are ready to go,' Haim told the Khmer Rouge.  But by this time there was not a soldier standing there who had the heart to raise his hoe to deliver the death blow on the backs of these noble heads. Ultimately this had to be done by the Khmer Rouge commune chief, who had not witnessed these things. But few of those watching doubted that as each of these Christians' bodies toppled silently into the earthen pit which the victims themselves had prepared, their souls soared heavenward to a place prepared by their Lord. The spread of news such as this, of certain Christians boldly bearing witness to their Lord in death, was gossiped about the countryside. Eventually these reports were brought across to the refugee camps in Thailand; and not always by Christians, but by typical Cambodians who, until then, had despised the Puok Yesu.” (Killing Fields, Living Fields by Don Cormack)

One of the first churches in Cambodia came to birth in the 1920s – a small light in the spiritual darkness of a remote village. The work of translating the Bible began in 1925, but it was to be nearly thirty years before the task was completed.

By 1970, there were only about 500 Christians in the country but between 1970 and 1975 there was a period of unprecedented growth, with around 10,000 beleivers by the end of 1974, thousands of believers awaited baptism at a time when there was only a handful of recognised pastors and then 1975, “Year Zero” as it is sometimes referred to, saw the ruthless elimination of the Christian Church until by 1979 an estimated 200 remained in the country.

Death appeared victorious over Haim, his family and the Church but listen - In 1990, the Cambodian government gave permission for the Church to function openly, at that time there were 10 evangelical churches in Cambodia. Today, according to The Joshua Project, 3.4% of Cambodia's estimated 17 million population (just over half a million), are professing Christians and the evangelical church is growing at 8.8% a year.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory”! As Christians stood firm in the face of death, they emerged vicotrious - This is the message that undergirds our motto text for 2024!

I. STAND FIRM FOR IN JESUS YOU SHALL BE VICTORIUS!

Paul is writing to fellow Christians - '..my beloved brethren..' - who are being targeted and ridiculed for the their belief in the resurrection of Jesus!

Leon Morris observes that, “The Corinthians were prone to fickleness, shifting without reason from one position to another. Let them get a firm grip on the truth of the resurrection, on God’s final plan for all people and all things, and they will not be so readily shaken”(Leon Morris). So Paul exhorts them to:

(1). “Stand firm”:

To 'stand firm' is to hold on to the things that we have been taught, being “steadfast” in them! To be 'steadfast' is to be firmly established in the faith. The Greek word “hedraioi” can imply someone who is 'seated, sedentary', perhaps having settled on a position, It can also signify a 'statue', or perhaps to 'wrestling' and standing one's ground e.g Josiah in 2 Kings 22:2 or Job in Job 23:11). See also 1 Cor 7:37 speaking of someone who is “firmly established in his heart”, having ‘settled the matter’; and therfore not easily moved! This is to be the impact of Christ’s resurrection on us - because of it, we whould not easily be moved! We should hold on to this as a matter of “first importance”(1 Cor 15v3,4).

(2). 'Let nothing move you (c/f Acts 20v17-24).

If we are “firmly established” we become “immovable” - unmoved by the sceptics and the doubters. Our faith in Christ becomes “rock solid” in faith and conviction.

Such faith will lead to a maturity which keeps us from being “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14).

It will allow us to resist temptation; to stand up to persecution and fight the seductive power of unbelief which would overthrow our faith in the doctrine of the resurrection.

After all, if we lose hold of our confident hope in the resurrection, we inevitably will abandon ourselves to the ways and standards of the world because there are no eternal consequences for our actions so what we do in this life, whether good or bad, in the end amounts to no difference in outcome, so the motivation for selfless service and holy living is gone. Paul makes the case for this in 1 Corinthians 15:32–34 “What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.”

The resurrection then is crucial for our faith! - ”This hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast" Heb 6v19 see also Gal 5:1;1 Pt 5:9;2 Pt 3:17). It is because of the resurrection, that we have victory in Jesus!

(a). You will be Victorius because even if you die, you will live again!

Paul has argued about the truth and importance of the resurrection in answering thew question posed in 1 Corinthians 15:12 “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” He thus makes it clear that resurrection will happen because it has already happened in Jesus’ resurrection and he is the “firstfruits of all who have fallen asleep”

In the latter part of this chapter, Paul discusses what kind of a body the resurrected person will have and he makes it clear that though it will be physical, just like now, it will also be immortal and incorruptible!

So Paul is concerned that these Christians should be firm in their adherence to it - it is after all part of the very essence of the gospel that he preached and they received (so 1Cor 15:3-4) and they most not allow themselves to be moved by the specious objections of the Philosopher or the sceptical dismissal of the unbeliever

From 1 Corinthians 15:58 the “mystery” that Paul speaks of in this verse is the change that takes place at the second coming of Christ

At this time, some Christians will be alive, and others will have died, but either way, the bodies of both will be changed. “Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (v52). The change will be instantaneous and complete, whether we are dead or alive.

Currently our bodies are “perishable”(1 Cor 15:53) meaning they are decaying, wearing out and running down. They are “mortal”(1 Cor 15:53) meaning that our bodies die but in Heaven, BUT after Jesus returns, our bodies will be changed so that there is no decay, no wearing, no running down, and no death.

We will have new bodies, immortal and incorruptible, capable of vastly greater joys than anything we have known on earth (1 Corinthians 15:44), and yet just as is now the case, we will be able to recongnise eachother and interractr with each other in a phsical way!

(b). You will be Victorius because Sin and Death has been defeated by Jesus!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, the sayings from Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14 will come to pass. “‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” Death is defeated and its power overcome, Hallelujah!

Death of course is the great enemy of mankind, as the writer to the Hebrews reminds us in Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that ithrough death he might destroy kthe one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

Yes it an enemy and as Paul also says, it is: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). When we die, it appears to win, just as was the case with Jesus BUT, when Jesus rose from the dead, what seemed like a defeat, proved to be the greatest victory of all. His death was swallowed up in victory and His death guarantees our victory over death ‘ “Because I live, you will live also”(John 14:19)

This is GOOD NEWS - the sharp, painful deadly sting of death, will not ultimately hurt us because Jesus lives! He paid the penalty for our sin upon the cross and removed the curse of the law - death - from us, as stated in 1 Cor:56-57, “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.”

“Thanks be to God!” Christ has satisfied all the demands of the law and recused us from its penalty - Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree.’” 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.” The curse of the law is satisfied, the sins are carried away. And therefore death is swallowed up in victory and the sting of death is gone.

(c). Think Victoriously! Faith in Christ Overcomes Fear!

Andrew Murray once said: “A dead Christ I must do everything for; a living Christ does everything for me.” Think of that for a moment - think of the impact of it!

Think of the resurrection on the followers of Jesus it was massive! - “Christ's friends were utterly transformed by His resurrection. Their friendship, their work, and even their meals together took on a new meaning and purpose. The same can happen to us today” (Eugene Petersen).

Think of it here, now and for you today! Listen – because Jesus is Risen from the dead and all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, He will be with us as his disciples to the end of the age!

Nothing is more important and crucial in our lives than this! Jesus has authority over all things. He is Lord of the universe, having authority over planets and stars, the sun and the moon!

He is Lord of the elements; the climate and the weather!

He is Lord of history, it’s all in His control!

He has authority over governments, over armies and military power!

He has authority over the economy and industry and business.

He is Lord over science and education. He has authority over the media and the arts! He is Lord of everything and all!

He is Lord of life! Of health and diseases having authority over life and death. He has authority over my life and controls the number of days that will lead to my death and then he has control over death, vicotry over it so that He can speak and raise me, raise you - raise us all up from the grave!

He is Lord! But is He my Lord? Is He YOUR LOrd?

Believing this and holding on to this is the most important and crucial thing in our lives!

II. WORK HARD FOR JESUS - YOU SHALL BE REWARDED!

Jesus is Lord! Paul says, Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.”

The word 'Lord'(GrK Kurios) denotes one who is 'supreme' in authority. It is the common New Testament term for 'Lord' that embraces in one, the Old Testament names for God, 'Yahweh' and 'Adonai'. (i).

Because Jesus is Lord, supreme authority and power resides with Him, He cannot fail to deliver on His promises and will inevitably have ultimate victory, so we can never fail and ourt work can never be wasted - it will ultimately be rewarded! Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Out of love for our Lord Jesus, we are to positively strive to do the Lord's will, whether it be in the home, in the work-place or in the church!

And we are to do it well, with energy and enthusiasm- “Always abounding in the work of the Lord” - The Greek word perisseuō means 'superabundant' in quantity or 'superior' in quality. It carries the sense of 'excelling' as is for example ther case in In Ephesians 1:7–8 which speaks of God’s lavishing on us “the riches of His grace.”

The point is, if God has so abundantly blessed us we should so abundantly want to bless Him as well in our service to His people! (c/f Rom 15:13;2 Cor 1:5;8:2;9:8;Phil 1:9;Col 2:7).

(1). This is a Great Challenge!

“What a word Paul gives to the countless Christians who work and pray and give and suffer as little as they can! How can we be satisfied with the trivial, insignificant, short-lived things of the world? How can we “take it easy” when so many around us are dead spiritually and so many fellow believers are in need of edification, encouragement, and help of every sort? When can a Christian say, “I’ve served my time, I’ve done my part; let others do the work now”? Reasonable rest is important and necessary. But if we err, Paul is saying, it should be on the side of doing more work for the Lord, not less. Leisure and relaxation are two great modern idols, to which many Christians seem quite willing to bow down. In proper proportion recreation and diversions can help restore our energy and increase our effectiveness. But they also can easily become ends in themselves, demanding more and more of our attention, concern, time, and energy. More than one believer has relaxed and hobbied himself completely out of the work of the Lord.” (MacArthur).

When Paul says, “always abound” he wants us to overflow with our work for your Lord! It might be tiring - note the word “labour” - Grk: kopos, labour to the point of weariness; work that makes us weary! (c/f Jn 4:38;Acts 20:35;Col 1:29;1 Thes 1:3;2:9;3:5;2 Thes 3:8). Its emphasis is not so much "the actual exertion which a man makes, as the lassitude of weariness, which follows on the straining of all His powers to the utmost"(Trench) - the point is that our work for the Lord will be hard, it will be costly and may even be painful, as it was for him, but whilst we may be tired in the work of the Lord, we must endeavour not to be tired of the work!

Instead, we shouild aim to be like Epaphroditus who was described by Paul as a “brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier” who “came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life” (Phil. 2:25, 30). Ephaproditus became so engrossed in the Lord’s work that he literally became sick to death because of it but still it did not cause him to retire from it!

There is no retirement from the work of the Lord! “Until the Lord returns there are souls to reach and ministries of every sort to be accomplished. Every Christian should work uncompromisingly as the Lord has gifted and leads. Our money, time, energy, talents, gifts, bodies, minds, and spirits should be invested in nothing that does not in some way contribute to the work of the Lord. Our praise and thanksgiving must be given hands and feet.” (MacArthur jr).

(2). This is a Great Engouragment!

When we work hard for the Lord, we should take great engouragment from the fact that his 'labour for the Lord is not in vain'(c/f Gal 6v9). For God is always a “rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him'(Heb 11v6).

'God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supply"(Hudson Taylor). God will always provide and It can never be 'in vain' . Why? Because of the resurrection of Jesus, with all that it means of God’s final triumph, and of the survival of the believer through death, Christian labour is not in vain (Grk: kenos, ‘empty’; Moffatt, ‘never thrown away’ c/f 1 Cor 15:16-19;Heb 6:10).

“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to repay to every man according to what he has done” (Rev. 22:12). This is Jesus’ own own promise that guarantees that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.

The is guaranteed also because as a result of the resurrection of Christ, we live and therefore our work will be rewarded at our own resurrection(c/f 1 Cor 3:8;Rev 2:2).

And this reward for 'labour' is both in the 'present' and in the future(c/f Lk 18:28-30). This is because the Christian lives in the light of the eternal. The reward secured for it by the grace of God and merit of Christ is participation of the glories of a blessed resurrection.

Your work will be rewarded for there is a resurrection(c/f 1 Cor 3:8;Rev 2:2). Death is not the end!

You will be suitably recompensed, 'in the Lord' - not 'apart' from Him - for we are eternally 'in Christ' (c/f Gal 2:20;Eph 1:18;Rev 14:13). We are ever ’in the Lord', never 'apart' from Him, for we are eternally 'in Christ'(c/f Gal 2v20;Eph 1v18;Rev 14v13).

Nothing we do for Christ will ever be in vain, it shall be rewarded - ”Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord"(Eph 6v8).

So my firends, let us embrace our Motto Text for 2024. Let us realise that: "The way not to go back is to go forward, the way to be 'unmoveable' is to be 'always abounding'. The secret of stability is progress……Not to advance is to recede"(Brown).

Paul reminds us that there awaits "glory, honour and peace to every one who works what is good"(Rom 2v10). One day we shall hear the Lord say 'well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord'!

**********

Notes:

(i). There is another word translated 'Lord' in our New Testaments, that is the word 'despotes', from which we get our rather tainted word 'despotic'. It appears 5 times in the New Testament, 3 times applied to God the Father(c/f Lk 2:29;Acts 4:24;Rev 6:10) and twice to God the Son(c/f 2 Pet 2:1;Jude 4). Originally the words 'kurios' and 'despotes' had a distinction, for example when used in relation to his slaves a man may have been termed a 'despotes', because he has unrestricted power and absolute control over them. In relation to his wife and children however, a man would be called 'kurios'(c/f 1 Pet 3:6), a milder term which speaks of an authority but one of moral constraint, caused by love and respect out of a consideration of the wellbeing of those under that authority. Thus, though our Lord is rightly called 'despotes”, in that He is by nature God, the absolute Sovereign; the ruler and desposer of life, He nevertheless reveals Himself most often as the milder 'Kurios' "since with Him power is never disconnected from wisdom and from love"(Trench). see Mtt 11:25;Jn 13:14;Col 1:2;1 Pet 2:3;2 Pet 3:9).