LABOUR

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

imagine a life in which you had absolutely nothing to look forward to… Several years ago there were a number of ponzi scenes going on… well off people… the rich and famous.. upper middle and also . .. the blue collar work force.. the ones that go to work day after day. just to feed their family.. and if they are fortunate enough.. they are able to take a vacation and when they turn 60.. they can retire....

a number of them when they went to retire .. found out that the money they had been sacrificing and putting in the bank… investing....was all gone… they had been taught.. to sacrifice.. put off those pleasures unitl retirement… save.. save save save… and now when the season comes that they should finally be able to reap the blessings of sacrificing all these years..

instead of being able to sit back an relax.. they have to go back into the work force…many 60, 65, 70 years old… faced with the reality that.. i will work my self to death...

in our text… we find ... ​Some in Corinth were teaching that Christians had nothing to look forward to, no resurrection. no.. eternal life… no purgatory… no streets of Gold… no pearly gates.. all you had to look forward to was being stuck in some wood or metal box...

imagine a life in which you had absolutely nothing to look forward to. ​Some in Corinth were teaching that Christians had nothing to look forward to, no resurrection.​In our passage, Paul corrected them, telling them that when Jesus comes, we will receive a body just like His: one that is spiritual, powerful, incorruptible and immortal.​Focus verse:​ NKJV58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.​:58Sometimes, we can feel that the sacrifices we make for the Lord are a waste of time.​But our future participation in the resurrection will make all our labour for the Lord more than worth it!​Note: We can only look forward to the resurrection if we are labouring!​What is labour? It is hard work. It is the opposite of laziness.​ NKJV6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.​God’s grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​Grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​ NKJV10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.​​We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:​ NKJV17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​​This presents us with the question: are you labouring for the Lord?​There are different types of labour...​​

Paul corrected them, telling them that when Jesus comes, we will receive a body just like His: one that is spiritual, powerful, incorruptible and immortal.​

n our passage, Paul corrected them, telling them that when Jesus comes, we will receive a body just like His: one that is spiritual, powerful, incorruptible and immortal.​

Focus verse:​

1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV 1900

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 corit

Sometimes.. as men and women of God… As believers... we can feel that the sacrifices we make for the Lord are a waste of time.​.. especially in a time .. in a world when we look a round and we see the ones that aren't making any sacrifices .. seem to be prospering…not just financially.. but in there homes .. their families ..on the job...

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.​:58Sometimes, we can feel that the sacrifices we make for the Lord are a waste of time.​But our future participation in the resurrection will make all our labour for the Lord more than worth it!​Note: We can only look forward to the resurrection if we are labouring!​What is labour? It is hard work. It is the opposite of laziness.​ NKJV6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.​God’s grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​Grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​ NKJV10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.​​We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:​ NKJV17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​​This presents us with the question: are you labouring for the Lord?​There are different types of labour...​​

But the thing is … I know the mother use to say.. it will pay off after while… and she was absolutely correct.. if you hold on to God… then heaven belongs to you..

there use to be a song we use to sing… if you live right Heaven belongs to who....

if you love right.. no anger.. no bitterness heaven belongs to you

III. Labour

Tomorrow is a holiday called Labour Day… a day created in 1880.... and made into a national holiday in 1887.......​What is labour? It is hard work. It is the opposite of laziness

Proverbs 6:9–11 NLT

9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

AS many of us are living under gace and mercy .. ​God’s grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​

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.​God’s grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​

.​ NKJV6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, 8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. 9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— 11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.​God’s grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​Grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:​ NKJV10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.​​We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:​ NKJV17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​​This presents us with the question: are you labouring for the Lord?​There are different types of labour...​​

Grace doesn’t produce laziness, it produces hard workers:

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

​​We are not saved by our works, but by our faith...... and faith is always accompanied by works

James 2:17 NLT

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

:​ NKJV17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​​This presents us with the question: are you labouring for the Lord?​There are different types of labour...​​

This presents us with the question: are you labouring for the Lord?........you say you have faith.. but what is your faith producing...

:We are not saved by our works, but true faith is always accompanied by works:​ NKJV17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​​This presents us with the question: are you labouring for the Lord?​There are different types of labour...​​

IV..There are different types of labour...​​

Labour of love

10

Hebrews 6:10 NKJV

10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

what we do to each other.....we do to His name (“you have shown toward His name”).​Whilst we are called to love all people, we are especially called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ

what we do to each other we do to His name (“you have shown toward His name”).​Whilst we are called to love all people, we are especially called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ:​ NKJV35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”​​ NKJV10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.​​​

​The labour of love is when we minister to one another.​Notice what we do to each other we do to His name (“you have shown toward His name”).​Whilst we are called to love all people, we are especially called to love our brothers and sisters in Christ:​ NKJV35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”​​ NKJV10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.​​​

:​ NKJV35

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

​​ NKJV10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.​​​

Labour of giving

NKJV28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

​This labour of giving also extends to giving to God’s house - the church.​

in the days of Haggai the prophet, the temple needed to be worked on..

Haggai 1:3–11 NLT

3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! 7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. 9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. 11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”

Haggai 1

The lesson was simple: God wasn’t blessing the labour of their hands, because they lacked in the labour of giving to Him!​

.​ NKJV3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” 7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”​The lesson was simple: God wasn’t blessing the labour of their hands, because they lacked in the labour of giving to Him!​Giving to God is an essential part of our labour. He has given so much to us, we should be more than happy to give back to Him.Giving to God is an essential part of our labour. He has given so much to us, we should be more than happy to give back to Him.​God commanded His people that they were to support His work by giving a tithe (i.e. tenth) so that His house could be looked after.​Jesus commanded that the tithe must not be neglected:​ NKJV23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.​Note: tithing must not be left “undone” according to Jesus. If we claim to follow Jesus, we must take these words seriously and get involved in the labour of giving by tithing to the church we are part of.​​​​

Giving to God is an essential part of our labour.... that we are showing towards GOd..

He has given so much to us, we should be more than happy to give back to Him......​God commanded His people that they were to support His work by giving a tithe (i.e. tenth) so that His house could be looked after.​Jesus commanded that the tithe must not be neglected… :

​ NKJV23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone

If we claim to follow Jesus, we must take these words seriously and get involved in the labour of giving by tithing to the church we are part of.​​​​

Labour of

Labour of service

​ NKJV10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.​​​

Labour of witness

​The task of showing Jesus to people wherever we go.

.​ NKJV8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

​ NKJV16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.​​​

Labour of prayer

​ NKJV12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.​

Note: “laboring fervently for you”. Prayer is hard work

!​When Elijah prayed for the 3.5 year drought to end...​ NKJV42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,1

Note: “laboring fervently for you”. Prayer is hard work!​When Elijah prayed for the 3.5 year drought to end...​ NKJV42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,:​ NKJV41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.​Note his posture: he bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees. We are not told why, but to me it seems that he meant business!Note: seven times. Sometimes God answers prayer immediately… at other times He doesn’t. But God’s timing is best.​We need to persist in prayer.​We must labour in persistent prayer for each other​ NKJV18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—​We must partner with God in praying for His will to be done on earth...We must persistently pray for our nation’s leaders to rule with wisdom and righteousness...​ NKJV1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.1 tim 2:​We must partner with God in persistently praying for His will to be done on earth...We must partner with God in praying for His will to be done on earth...​ NKJV9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.​​​

Kings 18:​ NKJV41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel

.​Note his posture: he bowed down to the ground and put his face between his knees. We are not told why, but to me it seems that he meant business!.......Note: seven times. Sometimes God answers prayer immediately… at other times He doesn’t. But God’s timing is best.​We need to persist in prayer.​.....We must labour in persistent prayer for each other...

NKJV18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—​

We must partner with God in praying for His will to be done on earth...We must persistently pray for our nation’s leaders to rule with wisdom and righteousness.

..​ NKJV1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.1

We must partner with God in persistently praying for His will to be done on earth...We must partner with God in praying for His will to be done on earth...​

Conclusion

V.​​​Conclusion

​Let us ensure that we continue to labour in love, giving, service, witness and prayer.

​ NKJV58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.​Amen.​.

As we stand and .. prepare for Holy communion.. the sign thats etched into the table says.... do this in remberance of me.. ..on tomorrow some have the day off.. and plan on spending time with friends and family ..

but right now.. lets remember the sacrifice that it took for God to give us the opportunity to know him… im not just talking about what someone told you about him…

but we have the opportunity to really know God… to experience his power… his love… to feel is his presence… because to the sacrifice he made .. we have hope.... so what ever your dealing with right now… what ever your struggling with right now… because of Gods sacrifice… because of Gods labour of love.... you can be healed… delivered and set free...

you can be saved from your sins.... filled with the Holy Ghost.... if you belive the word.. give God some praise....

communion...