Marks of True Faith: Always Abounding

Introduction

➟ ➟ ➟ Over the last three Sundays we have explored and its context in depth.

We’ve looked at the promises and assurances of deliverance from death by the power of Jesus.

➟ ➟ ➟ Since these things are true, we can be steadfast in our Christian life.

Fixed in purpose, steady as you go forward, having a solid front as you move ahead.

Making consistent progress even through the greatest challenges.

➟ ➟ ➟ Since the promises in 15.51-57 are true, we can be immovable.

Firm. Unshaken. Without vibration. Unwavering.

Not giving up the ground we have made through our steadfast progress. No retreat. Resolutely pursuing the goal.

And today, we focus on the second part of 15.58 - always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

I think this topic is so important for us … because we’re living in a time when many people do not know how to work hard.

➟ ➟ ➟ As of Monday, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 152 million non-farm jobs in our country.

71% of those are in some type of private sector service industry … add government jobs - # increases to 80%.

Vast majority of people do not manufacture or produce anything - strictly involved in the service sector.

The country has largely lost its sense of work-labor … many just don’t know what hard work is.

I’m not diminishing the work & effort that often comes with mental exertion in many professional jobs… but we do have to be aware of a growing problem in the culture … that many of the basic things we have … require hard work, physical labor and exertion, by someone somewhere.

Think about how this has led to a sense of entitlement … especially among our younger generations.

Some are even arrogant … asserting that those who are in manufacturing or farming aren’t very smart.

Hard work is just not a part of life for many Americans … we’re more into leisure …

And so the idea of abounding … and going overboard might be a challenge more now than ever before.

➟ ➟ ➟ It is very important that we learn to associate the concept of hard work and striving with Christianity.

Not because we live in fear and hold onto our salvation precariously...

But because we’re in a real, dynamic relationship with our God, who has saved us and equipped us with every tool to succeed, and we only have so many days to bring Him glory by letting our light shine inside and outside the kingdom.

➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ ➟ So as we study together today, we’ll follow the same basic pattern we have all month.

We’ll learn what it means to abound in the work of the Lord.

We’ll see how it is a mark of true faith.

We’ll discover four things in that we must abound.

What It Means to Abound

➟ ➟ ➟ - always abounding in the work of the Lord...

➟ ➟ ➟ Always: “at all times.”

➟ ➟ ➟ Abounding: “abundant, plentiful, to exist in large quantities.”

“To be over and above; more than enough.”

“To outflank.” “To be present in excess.”

“Being considerably more than what would be expected.”

Think of the context here in 1 Corinthians… and Christians in general living inside the Greco-Roman context:

Christians going to the extremity of their limits

Going as far as they can go… in light of constant isolation and eventual persecution.

Doing as much as they can do - as well as they can do it.

is not the only place in the NT where we read of the need for abundance:

➟ ➟ ➟ - we are to abound in love for one another. Also … knowledge and discernment is to abound.

➟ ➟ ➟ - increase and abound in love for one another, and for all...

- as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

- do this more and more.

Idea is not to do just enough to get by - but to do as much as possible.

Isn’t this what God does for us?

➟ ➟ ➟ CSB - he has poured out redemption, forgiveness, and grace upon us. He has given us an abundance of wisdom and understanding.

God equips and supplies us so that we operate from a position of abundance … not scarcity.

➟ ➟ ➟ - may our eyes be opened to:

the hope of his calling

the wealth of His glorious inheritance

the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.

God has never been stingy or begrudging to us.

It is in this background from which we move with abundance in our response to Him.

A Mark of True Faith

➟ ➟ ➟ When we read - we need to resist the idea of reading this from the perspective of works-driven salvation that lives in fear that we’re not doing enough.

The way into God’s heart is not by doing more. Sometimes in the past we may have read this passage from the perspective of motivation by guilt. Servitude. Fear.

The way to obtain favor with God is

If I don’t do this … If I’m not perfect in that … I’m lost.

Nothing and I mean nothing in this text is designed to present the idea of in/out salvation or suggest that our status with God is precarious in any way.

The emphasis here should not solely be on the external … but rather it is a reflection of internal condition of heart that trusts in the promises in the context leading up to it.

➟ ➟ ➟ - Abounding is the natural result of a changed heart.

You received the Holy Spirit at your baptism.

➟ ➟ ➟ - the Spirit is given to those who obey Him.

He enables you - not to see yourself as a slave - and obey motivated by fear of punishment -

➟ ➟ ➟ - He enables you to see yourself as a true son/daughter of God - where obedience is motivated by love/gratitude/genuine desire to please.

The Spirit helps us change our deepest desires, motivations, and dispositions and adjust them from a slave to a son. This is what Paul means by the term “spirit of adoption.”

➟ ➟ ➟ - for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Who is working inside you?

What is God doing?

Changing your will. Assisting you in His work. All for His good pleasure.

If you have truly surrendered to God, saturated self with His word, cooperating with the Spirit who has set up shop in your heart, abounding in God’s work will come about naturally. It’ll be an absolute joy & pleasure.

Consider the context of .

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.54-55 - After you die, you will go on living. Jesus defeated death for us. Paul so sure that he taunts death.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.56 - By Jesus’ defeat of our enemies … we will live.

➟ ➟ ➟ He met every requirement of law - you are no longer subject to its penalty.

- There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ.

No judgment. No penalty. No doom. The sentence of death that you deserve will not be carried out.

➟ ➟ ➟ By His vicarious death, Jesus destroyed the power of sin.

The principle that says, the soul that sins will die has been broken for those in Christ.

Jesus stood in your place.

He bore your past sins, present sins, and future sins in His flesh on the cross.

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.57 - thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we truly grasp the power of what Paul teaches here …

➟ ➟ ➟ 15.58 will be the natural result. Our work in the Lord is never in vain.

5.1a - Who is born of God? Everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ. (Messiah) (Savior)

5.1b - Who has been born of the Father? Everyone who loves the Father.

How do I know I’m his?

5.1b - love the Father … right below John will define what this is… it’s more than a warm fuzzy...

5.2a - love God’s children

5.2b-3a - obey his commands .... for this is what the love of God is...

5.3b - How are the commands not burdensome?

When we obey as a son and not a slave.

When our primary motive is gratitude / love rather than fear.

5.4 - What happens when we act in faith on God’s promises .. have daily interaction with God through a surrendered life?

Victory.

Overcoming the world. By what? Faith.

It doesn’t matter what Satan brings; how the world challenges; how life happens; if I fail...

Jesus is more than capable of saving us despite our imperfections and failures.

➟ ➟ ➟

We charge forward with everything we have - obeying God with abandon, without reserve, because we’re covered and forgiven.

- Our work in the Lord is never in vain.

Four Things in Which We Can Abound

As an illustration of what to abound in .. Paul illustrates the principle of 15.58 by a number of things in 16. We’ll look at four of these … that serve as examples of what it means to abound.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.1-4 - we abound in giving.

This is where the work of the Lord begins.

Collection here was for a FC problem. Needy saints in Jerusalem.

Collection from many Gentile churches as an offering of love to Jews. Paul is calling on the Corinthian church to be a part.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.2 - there is a principle here.

On the first day of every week - we lay money we’ve prospered aside and store it up.

God wants us to begin the week from the principle of stewardship.

Need to connect this passage with the principle of abounding. Giving more than necessary so that when the need arises - the money is there.

- Macedonians gave generously in midst of great poverty.

➟ ➟ ➟ - we give. God gives. Will we put this verse to the test?

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.5 - we abound in vision and planning.

If we are to do the work of God and do it to the limit, … commit ourselves fully to it, we must have a vision for the future.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.5 - Paul was always planning. Never content with the status quo. Always looking forward.

There was always a goal or objective.

Over the past 10 years we’ve striven help you see the value of planning.

➟ ➟ ➟ Our vision plans give us purpose, direction that result in stability and growth.

Where has that growth led? To the need for more planning.

Growth has led to a need for new facilities.

We need to be praying for our shepherds and deacons as they plan and act on the plans to accommodate our present growth.

We need to be open to communication and keeping everyone informed so people will know what to be praying for.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.6-7 - we abound in flexibility.

We can have great dreams, plans, ambitions, and hopes … but everything is submitted to the fact that God plays a role here too.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.7b - if the lord permits. If God makes it happen.

God can get involved … we think one thing is going to happen - and then a different door of opportunity is opened.

- remember the Macedonian call where Paul had plans to go to Bithynia … and the HS said … “whoa....”

There are goals we have where we go after with all our being - yet we also move with the idea of flexibility to allow God to make changes.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.6-7 - we abound in excellence.

We operate from the principle of not just getting by, but doing as much as possible - so we pursue excellence.

Not superficial, shallow. But thorough.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.6 - Paul wanted to spend the winter with them.

16.7 - he wanted to spend time with them.

Why? Wanted to do a work that is deep and lasting.

Depth … with thoroughness. take time with you.

➟ ➟ ➟ - teaching everyone with wisdom - that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

The time we have needs to be to lead others to excellence.

This has been our goal in Colombia. Why concentrate on 1 country … instead of 6 continents?

➟ ➟ ➟ Our goal is to lead them to excellence.

Create something abiding, deep, something that builds down … for lasting quality.

This is why we’ve equipped them with the principles for establishing elderships.

This is why we take a week each year and hold a conference for the upbuilding and encouragement of the 9 men we support.

It’s all for the goal of changing lives.

Conclusion

➟ ➟ ➟ - in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.

Right now, we abound … committed to the work in front of us … not putting it off … but we’re right in the middle of it … striving with all our might … moving by faith.

- Paul had future plans...

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.8-9 - but right at that moment … he was going to seize the opportunity right where he was.

The work God gives us today - we seize in abundance - knowing that it’s a proving ground - trusting we’ll get to move forward in our plans in due time.

If we want a new building tomorrow...

We must work in abundance with the work God has given us today.

There are people in the community right now who need Jesus.

Our children, young people, and those in our families need to see our commitment now .. not just our talk.

What are the opportunities right in front of us? Things we can abound in now?

➟ ➟ ➟ In the Lord, your labor is never in vain.

God is good, who equips us - imperfect people - with the tools to accomplish His mission.

He fills our Spirit - helping us change inwardly so we can do His work.

Have you become a part of His life changing work?