Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord

“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.” —I Corinthians 15:58

We see the TIME in relation to the context where it is found. Our text is found in relationship to the Second Coming of Christ and the Rapture. Without a doubt this is the greatest chapter in the Bible on the resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus Christ and its relationship to the gospel is set forth in verses 1-34. Without the resurrection we would have no gospel to preach (I Corinthians 15:1-4). The glorious future resurrection of all the saved is taught in verses 35-50. It is there that we find a description of what the saved will be in our resurrection bodies. Then we are presented with the thrilling information about the rapture of the living saved and the resurrection of the dead saints at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (verses 51-57).

It is after this we have verse 58 to challenge us. On the basis of the resurrection of Christ, the glory of our future resurrection body, and the possible soon coming of Christ in the rapture, we should be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord…”

We see the TIME in relation to the whole picture of prophecies. If we study God’s Word, we can see that God’s prophetic time clock is ticking. In Daniel chapter two, we see the final form of the revived Roman Empire being fulfilled in the ten toes of the great image. The stone cut out of the mountain without hands (Christ) will come and crush the last form of Gentile power. It is evident that events are shaping up for the fulfillment of this prophecy. In Daniel 9:20-27, we have the prophecy of the seventy weeks of years. The 70^th week will be the seven-year tribulation period and may well be just over the horizon. Before this last week begins, the rapture will take place. Surely these things are reason enough why we should be “. . . always abounding in the work of the Lord . . .”

Matthew 24, Luke 17 and 21 presents a vivid picture of what the last days will be like. Some of these dramatic events will take place before the rapture, and some will take place during the tribulation. Even the future events of the tribulation are casting their shadows before them.

In 1 Timothy 4:1 we are told “that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” We see the evidence of this taking place on every hand, but space forbids us to comment upon it here. The “perilous times” with all of the sins that go with it are revealed in 2 Timothy 3:1-3. We are told in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Never before in the history of the world has there been so much false doctrine, as it is today. By radio and television these false teachers spread their pernicious doctrines to almost every place on earth. With their tremendous publishing enterprises and the fast growing super church movement, they are filling hearts and minds with religious error that makes it all but impossible for these poor victims to ever know the truth.

Jude 3 tells us of “certain men” who have “crept in unawares” doing great damage to the cause of truth. Many of them today are still creeping in, but it seems that many more are leaping in with their damnable doctrines. The scoffers are here, just as Peter predicted that they would come. “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (II Peter 3:3).

Then we come to the prophecies found in the book of Revelation, and we see them casting their shadow ahead of them. Surely the fulfilling of prophecies should cause us to be “...always abounding in the work of the Lord. “

Let us also consider the TIME in relation to our on limited time on earth. The Bible speaks of our life being very brief. It is like a “tale that is told” (Psalm 90:9), and a “vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14). Soon our earthly life will end and the thing that will be important then is what we did for Christ. The wisest thing for the Christian is to be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

It is because we have been entrusted with the TRUTH that we have this duty. We have the right Bible, the trusted and true King James Bible. We are not deceived by the RSV, NIV, NEB, and all the other false versions on the market today. Most of the so-called Christian world does not even know which Bible is the Word of God.

We have the right gospel. Not the gospel of works, the gospel of baptism, or any of the other false gospels making their rounds to deceive today. We have the gospel of the grace of God, the one that Paul and the other Apostles preached, and it is the only one that will save the soul.

We have the right Church doctrine and the right Church ordinances. We are not confused by Rome, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Alexander Campbell, or the Charismatics. We know what the truth is and where to find it. If we don’t spread the truth, who will? Because of this, we should be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Because of this, we are to be stedfast & unmovable in the TRUTH. “Stedfast” means “firm, immovable, steadfast.” This means we are not to be blown about by every wind of doctrine. We are to mature and be built up in the truth and to never change or turn from it. “Unmovable” means “not to be moved from its place, unmoved and firmly persistent.” We fear that too many Baptists, and yes, Independent Baptists are bedfast but not stedfast in the truth. Neither of these words discourages activity, work or service to the Lord. They refer to doctrine and truth in which we are to be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

The TASK is set forth in the great commission to the church. Jesus told His church what their job was during this age. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). Our task is the same today, and if what we are doing cannot be done in the framework of this commission, most likely we should not be doing it. Our work is not the social gospel. We are not to go into all the world and teach them how to grow plump chickens, lean pigs, and tender beef. Our job is the God-ordained task of giving out the gospel, baptizing the converts, organizing the churches, and teaching them to observe all things that He has commanded. If we are to please Him, we must be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord.”

Jesus Christ set us an example of always being busy about the TASK. So did Peter, James, John, Stephen and Paul show us by example what we should be doing. The members of the Church at Jerusalem went daily from house to house, and the Lord added to the Church on a daily basis. When persecution arose, many of their members were scattered abroad, but that did not stop them from the TASK. It was not the apostles that were scattered, but these people were faithful as they went. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4).

The glowing work through the Church at Ephesus is clearly declared. “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 19:10. Paul gave a glowing report of the work of the church at Thessalonica. “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in everyplace your faith to God ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing” (I Thessalonians 1:8).

The churches of the New Testament were not busy planning socials, sports, dinners, plays or dramas. They were too busy doing the work of the Lord for that. They were truly “. . . always abounding in the work of the Lord . . .” We read of the martyrs like Polycarp, the Waldensians, Anabaptists, and others who died horrible deaths, because they were abounding in the work of the Lord. We should be ashamed of ourselves for doing so little.

The vastness of the TASK should move us to abound in the work of the Lord. The population explosion in the world should move us to action. With 7 billion in the world, and growing in numbers every day, we have an incentive to redouble our efforts at home and abroad. With all the unreached nations and peoples, every true Church should be a headquarters for world-wide missions. Where is the zeal and dedication among God’s people today? We should be sounding the battle cry and lifting the standard high.

The Muslims, cults, Charismatics, Catholics, and pagan religions are multiplying like maggots in a dead carcass. They are leading souls down the road to destruction while God’s true messengers are often at ease in Zion. When will the true churches be aroused to be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord?”

We here refer to the reward and this will be our TRIUMPH. Listen to the words of our text, “… forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” No true labour for the Lord will be in vain. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). We might suffer down here if we are faithful to God, but what is that compared to the future? “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).

Soul winning is a great part of our work, and it will not go unrewarded. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30). “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

It is the will of God that we become fishers of men, and we will never be sorry if we do. There is coming a day of TRIUMPH for those who are faithful in so doing. “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). “And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together” (John 4:36).

We must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive a reward according to the deeds done in the body. This is where obedient saints will TRIUMPH, because they will find that their labor has not been in vain. What a joy to hear HIM say, “well done.” It will not be in vain when we consider the satisfaction. I have never heard of anyone coming to the end of their life and saying, “I did too much for the Lord.” On the other hand I have heard of many who said they did too little for Him and how they regretted it. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Think of the TRAGEDY of people bringing no glory to God. Every sinner and his sin is an insult to God. The sinful corruption is doing untold harm to others. It is horrible when we consider all the pain and suffering of men and women in this life because of sin in their lives. We need to consider the suffering of children because of sin in families. Our society is corrupted because of the ravages of sin in the lives of people, and something worse when we see that this is repeated in generation after generation.

The TRAGEDY of souls going to hell: not only does sin cause untold misery in this life, but those who continue in it will end up in hell. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17). “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 22-23). Hell is a real place and Jesus told us exactly what it would be like. “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Luke 16:23).

The TRAGEDY of uncaring Christians: we have experienced the love of God and the salvation of the Lord, and we ought to be interested in others having the same joy. We have the gift of eternal life, and our destiny has been changed forever. The man who was robbed and wounded on the road to Jericho is an example of the condition of every sinner. He desperately needed help, but the priest and the Levite passed on the other side and gave him no help. A certain Samaritan came by and bound up his wounds, took him to an inn and provided for his need. (Luke 10:25-35.) Every sinner needs such spiritual help today, but unfortunately most Christians are passing by on the other side. What will you do in the days ahead? Will you be a soul winner, or will you just pass by on the other side?

Let me challenge you to obey our text. Will you be different in witnessing? Will you seriously strive to win souls this year? Yes, give a verbal witness every time you can, and always leave a tract that has the truth of salvation in it. Use tracts for Christ’s sake and for the sake of souls. Let us determine that we will be “…always abounding in the work of the Lord.”